Ethiopians Turn Up at Russian Embassy For 'Army Recruitment'

Gelmo Dawit for Voice of America reports that hundreds of Ethiopians have reportedly lined up outside the Russian embassy in Addis Ababa, hoping to be recruited to fight for Moscow in its war against Ukraine, that began on February 24, 2022. The embassy has dismissed claims it is recruiting foreign fighters and said the Ethiopians are there to show their solidarity with Russia.

Meanwhile, witnesses have said that the embassy is not bringing the hopefuls inside, but that staffers have come outside to collect their documents.

In Irob Woreda, in north eastern Tigray, the UN Office for the Coordination of the Humanitarian Affairs has said that over 33,000 people (65% of the Woreda population) are facing extreme food insecurity and have received limited assistance. 

Renewed violence in the Oromo and North Showa zones in the Amhara region claimed the lives of about a dozen people and displaced many, reports have said. Residents of Jille Dumuga Woreda of the region's Oromo Special zone told Addis Standard that conflict flared up on April 18, 2022.

Lidiya Girma, deputy head of peace values department at the Addis Ababa city administration peace and security bureau, has said that the bureau has embarked on strengthening "People's Army" members in the city to prevent and control illegal activities. Accordingly, capacity-building training will be provided to over 30,000 members of the city's "People's Army" in all sub-cities as of April 18, 2022.