Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The Ethiopian government has expelled the Italian ambassador to Addis Ababa, Cesame Fabrizi, declaring him persona non grata just ten months after he took up his post. Fabrizi has left Addis Ababa and returned to Rome. The move was initially shrouded in secrecy by official circles, but details of the crisis, which has strained bilateral relations between the two countries in the sensitive Horn of Africa region, have since emerged.
The motives behind the decision and the administrative reforms that prompted the Ethiopian authorities
According to informed sources, Ambassador Fabrizi has adopted strict policies and taken decisive measures since his arrival, aiming to strengthen oversight of the embassy’s activities and streamline its administrative and financial operations. These reforms included tightening visa issuance standards and outsourcing the process to the specialized agency VFS Global to minimize potential undue influence. Furthermore, previous practices involving the passage of goods and equipment without thorough inspection were put an end to these policies. As a result of these efforts to establish institutional integrity, the ambassador has faced widespread opposition and criticism from influential figures within certain circles connected to the Ethiopian government. He has also faced criticism from individuals close to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The Italian government’s silence and the shifts in the armed conflict in Ethiopia
On the political and diplomatic front, the Italian government’s handling of the situation, particularly that of Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, surprised observers by accepting the expulsion of the ambassador without applying the principle of reciprocity or taking a firm stance. This diplomatic tension coincides with renewed fighting in Ethiopia between the federal government and Tigrayan forces. This is occurring amidst complex regional shifts, including shifting alliances among various armed groups. Addis Ababa is frantically rearming and seeking a strategic sea outlet. Consequently, the Ethiopian arena is becoming a stage for extensive geopolitical rivalries.
