Ethiopian premier says nation should reduce overseas missions

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on Monday his nation had better dramatically reduce the number of overseas missions.

His remarks came during the 4th special session of parliament and Q&A with parliamentarians on numerous issues including the economy, security particularly a truce declared unilaterally by the Ethiopian government in the northernmost region of Tigray, and last month's general election.

“At least,” the Prime Minister told the parliamentarians, “Ethiopia would need to close 30 of its embassies.”

Abiy said Ethiopia would no longer sustain all its foreign missions purely for economic reasons. “The ambassadors of embassies to close may follow up from Addis Ababa.”

Ethiopia, according to him, is facing debilitating inflation that needs to be addressed, and an insurgency backed by foreign powers and the international media.

The East African country currently has 43 embassies and 49 consulates.