The group of Spanish tourists trapped in a hotel in Ethiopia arrives in Addis Ababa, from where they will fly tomorrow to Madrid

MADRID, 12 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The group of Spanish tourists trapped since the beginning of August in Ethiopia, due to clashes between state security forces and the Fano militias in the Amhara region, have been evacuated to the country's capital, Addis Ababa, from where they will fly to Madrid tomorrow. as reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, EU and Cooperation to Europa Press.

The 20 Spaniards, including 18 tourists and a guide, who have been joined by a Spaniard of Ethiopian origin, landed this Saturday after 1:00 p.m. (Spanish time) in Addis Ababa from Bahir Dar, a city controlled by the Army in which they were previously transferred from the Adis Zemen hotel where they had been trapped since August 2.

Upon their arrival at the capital's airport, they were received by the Spanish ambassador in Ethiopia, Manuel Salazar Palma, the consul Fernando Magallanes and other members of the Embassy.

The group will remain in a hotel in the Ethiopian capital until tomorrow, Sunday August 13, when they will be transferred to the capital of Spain on a commercial flight. With his arrival in Madrid, which is scheduled for next Monday, the evacuation operation organized and coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Embassy in Addis Ababa will conclude.

The department headed by José Manuel Albares has indicated that the operation has been possible after intense negotiations between the Embassy and senior officials of the Ethiopian Government, including the Prime Minister's Security Adviser, who have been requested to protect the group and the sending a military helicopter to carry out the evacuation by air after verifying that the transfer by road was unfeasible due to cuts and the presence of militiamen and criminal gangs.

Following confirmation of the sending of the Ethiopian Armed Forces helicopter, the Embassy has coordinated, together with the general in command of the forces that control the area, the transfer of the group to Bahir Dar, where they have been staying until their departure this morning. Saturday on a commercial flight that has taken them to Addis Ababa.

The conflict broke out on August 1 in the tourist city of Lalibela and spread throughout the Amhara region, making it difficult for Spanish tourists to leave due to the closure of the Gondar and Lalibela airports, and preventing safe transit by road to the capital of the country.

Before the evacuation of this group, Foreign Affairs reported the transfer on Thursday of two other Spanish tourists who were in the city of Gondar.

In any case, the Ministry insists on its express recommendation, published on its website, since August 30, 2022, not to travel for any reason to the regions of Tigray, Amhara, Somali, Gambella, Benishangul Gumuz, the west Oromia and other areas, due to the fluid security situation.