Germany lifts Ethiopia travel advisory, despite Amhara & Oromia 'skepticism'

Germany has fully lifted its travel advisory for Ethiopia citing the end of state of emerency rule on August 4, 2017.

The state of emergency was imposed in October 2016 to quell spreading anti-government protests in two main regions of Amhara and Oromia.

The German foreign ministry’s message issued on Thursday August 10, however, asked citizens to carefully weigh trips off routes into the two states in question. They further cautioned citizens to review their personal security and to stay away from places of conflict and to avoid crowds.

‘‘Holiday trips off the main routes, into the Oromia and Amhara regions should be carefully weighed. On the main routes (Axum, Mekele, Bahir Dar, Gondar, Lalibela, Dire Dawa, Arba Minch, Konso, Jinka) travel is possible without problems,’‘ the statement read.

It also warned of ‘‘increasingly violent and partial fatal collisions between the two ethnic groups’‘ in the border area of the Oromo- and Somali regions. The two groups have reportedly being clashing since early 2017.

‘‘The areas concerned are Guji, Bale, Borena, Hararghe and West Guji. Travelers are advised to avoid these areas,’‘ the statement cautioned.

The United States in its latest travel advisory on Ethiopia reported of intense fighting in the country’s east. They said the fighting had made a key road linking the east to Addis Ababa umpassable.

In its response, the government said there was only sporadic clashes in the region between the Oromos and Somalis but not ‘intense fighting’ as the US sought to portray.

The country imposed a curfew in October last year, it was extended by another four months in April this year and was lifted after 10 months.