United States embassy in Addis Ababa suspending operations for “caution”

borkena
September 18,2018

The United States Embassy in Addis Ababa is suspending operations this Wednesday as a “caution” in connection with a planned demonstration in the capital.

Visa appointments (both immigrant and non-immigrant visa) and citizens service appointments are canceled and will be rescheduled according to the statement from the embassy. Regarding emergency assistance, the embassy advised clients to visit website for contact information.

The embassy also advised demonstrators to make the demonstration peaceful by expressing themselves peacefully.

Yesterday, Ethiopians staged a demonstration in the capital Addis Ababa to condemn the massacre in Burayu town which claimed dozens of lives. Based on reports from Addis Ababa administration, more than 12,000 people were displaced.

Prime minister Abiy Ahmed visited today victims of the attack. ” The perpetrators have succeeded in killing Ethiopians but they will not succeed to destroy Ethiopia,” Abiy told victims vowing that those who are responsible for the attack will be held responsible.

Photo : File

The statement from the US Embassy reads as follows:

Out of an abundance of caution the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa is suspending operations on Wednesday, September 19 in light of expected large-scale demonstrations in Addis Ababa.

All visa appointments and scheduled American Citizen Services appointments are cancelled. American Citizens should make a new appointment via the Embassy website. Immigrant visa applicants will be contacted shortly to reschedule. Non-Immigrant visa applicants should visit the Embassy website to schedule a new appointment.

Americans requiring emergency assistance should visit the U.S. Embassy website for contact information.

Additionally, the American Center in Addis Ababa and the Satchmo Center at the U.S. Embassy will be closed tomorrow.

We encourage all those involved in the demonstrations to express themselves peacefully.

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