Lidetu Ayalew Claims He Was Denied Boarding to Ethiopia
Borkena
Toronto – Lidetu Ayalew, former leader of the Ethiopian Democratic Party (EDP), announced on Monday that he was not allowed to board a flight to Addis Ababa from the United States.
In a brief statement, he detailed the incident that occurred at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Lidetu stated that he arrived at the airport around 6:30 a.m. for an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Addis Ababa, scheduled to depart at 9:30 a.m.
However, he was informed that he could not proceed with the flight.
According to Ayalew, Teshome Gebreselassie, Ethiopian Airlines’ Atlanta station manager, relayed the decision to him. It appears the decision followed communication with the Ethiopian Embassy in the U.S.
It remains unclear whether Teshome Gebreselassie initiated the communication with the embassy or acted on instructions from the embassy.
“I contacted the Ethiopian Embassy in the U.S., and I was told that I cannot travel to Ethiopia without special permission,” Ayalew stated. The reason for requiring special permission and the authority responsible for issuing it were not specified.
Lidetu claims to have a valid ticket for the flight, with booking reference number LXPAEH, purchased on January 2. The ticket, shared on Ethiopian Media Services , shows he held an economy class seat (14A) on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 519.
He also confirmed that he possesses a valid Ethiopian passport.
“The Ethiopian government has accused me of terrorism and claimed to be working with INTERPOL to arrest me. Now, they have surprised me by not allowing me to return to my country. This is perhaps the first such case in the world,” Lidetu Ayalew said in his statement.
Lidetu traveled to the United States for medical treatment and has repeatedly stated his intention to return to Ethiopia once his treatment concluded.
Although he announced his planned return several weeks ago, he did not disclose the specific date. “I did not want to cause unnecessary chaos, as people might have come to the airport to welcome me,” he explained.
Despite the setback, he remains determined. “I will purchase tickets from another airline and return to my country,” he vowed.
The Ethiopian government has not remarked about restrictions on Lidetu Ayalew
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