Ethiopia says it foiled attack on UAE embassy in Addis Ababa
Ethiopian authorities arrested 15 people in an alleged plot to attack the United Arab Emirates' embassy in Addis Ababa, the country's state news agency reported.
The Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) reported on Wednesday, citing a statement from the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), that an unspecified amount of arms, explosives, and documents were seized during an operation.
"The group took the mission from a foreign terrorist group and was preparing to inflict significant damage on properties and human lives," EPA said.
There was no immediate comment from the UAE's Foreign Ministry or its embassy in Addis Ababa.
EPA reported that a second group of suspects had been planning to attack the UAE's diplomatic mission in neighbouring Sudan. There was no immediate comment from Sudanese authorities.
Stay informed with MEE's newsletters
Sign up to get the latest alerts, insights and analysis, starting with Turkey Unpacked
The state-affiliated FANA news outlet reported that a man was arrested in Sweden as a result of an exchange of information with European, African, and Asian security services.
The UAE has played a key diplomatic role in bringing together longtime foes Ethiopia and Eritrea since Abiy Ahmed became Ethiopia's prime minister in 2018, while also providing financial contributions to stabilise the country's economy.
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
