The American newspaper Politico pointed out that “European countries are concerned about the intensification of Russian contacts with African countries, especially with Ethiopia, which prompted European countries to increase their financial support to the government of Addis Ababa.”

She pointed out that “EU officials after Russia’s contacts with African countries became ‘concerned’, and countries such as Italy, Germany, France and the Netherlands rushed to allocate more money to Ethiopia, despite accusations by the Ethiopian authorities from Western countries of violating human rights and committing war crimes in the Tigray region.

Ethiopian affairs expert William Davison told the newspaper of “fears” that Russia would take advantage of worsening relations between Addis Ababa and Western partners. On Wednesday, the United States announced it would send more than $488 million in humanitarian aid to Ethiopia to help those affected by the drought.