GENEVA: Irresponsible politicians' calls to weapons and violent hate speech are putting Ethiopia at risk of genocide, according to Alice Wairimu Nderitu, the UN special adviser on genocide prevention. According to reports, she expressed severe concern on Friday about the deterioration of the situation in Ethiopia.

She noted that irresponsible leaders' speeches, the militarization of society, ethnic profiling, the denial of humanitarian access and the embargo of food to areas under conflict inhabited by specific ethnic groups, and the mishandling of medical supplies persist.

Those officials, according to Nderitu, are "spiralling the country down a path where the risk of atrocity crimes, including genocide, is real and must be handled as a matter of extreme urgency." "To avoid sliding into this abyss," the special adviser urged regional and international actors to "intensify their participation." She also reminded conflicting parties that international human rights and humanitarian laws hold them accountable to the residents of their country, region, and the world.

"Regional and international actors have provided tools and processes for Ethiopian leaders to engage in such discussion," she said. "It is more important than ever that they display true leadership by committing to this road immediately, both in words and in deeds."

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