Switzerland advises nationals to leave Ethiopia

Switzerland has become the latest country to advise its citizens to leave Ethiopia, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday, as the security situation worsens in the African country.

"The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) advises against travelling to Ethiopia for any reason," it told Reuters. "It also recommends that Swiss nationals in Ethiopia leave the country by their own means."

The FDFA advised people to leave Ethiopia using available commercial flights, it said. There are 230 Swiss citizens in Ethiopia registered with the country's embassy in Addis Ababa, the vast majority of whom live in the country. Around 20 have left since the beginning of November.

Germany urged its nationals on Tuesday to leave Ethiopia on the first available commercial flights, joining France and the United States which have also told their citizens to leave immediately.

The United Nations is "temporarily relocating" families of international staff from Ethiopia due to the security situation, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday, adding that UN personnel would remain in the country.

(Reuters)