weeks after it began erupting. ♪ >> these are the top stories. china and the u.s. promised to work together more closely to combat climate change in spite of their differences. both pledged to speed up emissions reductions to meet the goals of the paris agreement. joe biden says his infrastructure economic plan is the fix to soaring inflation in the country. data reveals prices have risen 6.2% in the last year, the biggest spike in 30 years. >> i'm here to talk about one of the most pressing economic concerns of the american people, and it's real.

that is getting prices down, number one. number two, making sure our stores are fully stocked, and number three, getting a lot of people back to work while tracking and tackling these two above challenges. today's economic report shows unemployment continues to fall, but consumer prices remain too high. >> belarus says that e.u. is provoking a migrant standoff as an excuse to impose sanctions. 2000 people are stuck in freezing conditions on the border with poland. more than 70 drivers working for the world food program have been detained by ethiopian authorities. humanitarian sources say they were arrested during government raids targeting ethnic tigrayans. the rebels say they have captured towns on the main highway down to addis ababa. relatives of an afghan family killed in a u.s. drone strike are waiting for justice. the attack in august killed an

aid worker and his family, including seven children. the pentagon said it would pay compensation, but a watchdog old while the attack was a mistake, it didn't break any laws. the actual targets were isil members. protesters rallied against the military government in myanmar's largest city on wednesday, calling for people to boycott the education system. they can overbuy the military following february's coup. monitoring group fortify rights outlined rights abuses by security forces. this includes killings and torture, which the group says could amount to war crimes. you are up-to-date with the headlines once again. the latest edition of "inside story" is next. ♪

>> ethiopia slide war amid warnings of a greater humanitarian crisis. can diplomats defuse the situation? what with the failure of international diplomacy mean? this is inside story. ♪ >> welcome to the show. ethiopia has more than 90 ethnic groups and it is feared to the conflict in the northern region of tigray is stirring divisions. the u.n. warns the nation is descending into civil war and the effects could ripple throughout the horn of africa.

rebels threatened to advance on the capital. the prime minister caused -- called on ethiopians to take up arms and defend their neighborhoods. diplomatic efforts are underway to end the fighting. the u.s. and african envoys held meetings with the prime minister and tigrayan leaders. there is a small window of opportunity to de-escalate tensions. >> here in other suburb -- in addis ababa, everyone agrees the difference between them is political. and they require political solutions through dialogue. therefore, this constitutes a window of opportunity. it is important that this window of opportunity we have, it is

very little and the time is short for any intervention in this regard. >> tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in ethiopia in support of prime minister -- the prime minister randy armed forces. rallies were held up of the government declared -- after the government cleared a state of emergency. the prime minister says he wants to protect the people. regional fighters have taken control of cities along the main road leading to the capital. they u.n. accused all sides of committing atrocities. at least 16 u.n. local employees and 72 drivers for the world food program were detained in addis ababa tuesday. the u.n. called for their release after the top u.n. relief official visited

ethiopia. the u.n. says the fighting is disrupting the flow of aid and the humanitarian situation is worsening. more than 400,000 people in tigray are living in famine-like conditions. here is the report from addis ababa. >> diplomatic efforts are going on to try to bring the two sides in the conflict to a negotiated settlement. within the international community, there is a sentiment that the fighting needs to stop. it has every possibility of turning into a civil war if the fighting continues as it has been. it has been intensifying in recent weeks. the former president of nigeria, who is also the african union special envoy to the horn of africa, is leading efforts by the african union to bring the two sides to a negotiated settlement.

speaking, he said there was a window of opportunity that is closing fast and he will have a plan for dialogue between the government and tigrayan fighters before the end of the week. he has been the cap -- to the capital of tigray and he has visited other regions where the conflict has spilled over in recent weeks. since that conflict has intensified, of course the united states is also going on with a parallel initiative to try to bring about dialogue between the two sides in the conflict. the u.s. special envoy to the horn of africa came to body suburb after leaving for kenya. he is meeting with senior government officials and opposition leaders. all of this, going on. what is really putting the whole dialogue thing at risk is that

the government, the onset of this war last year put the tigrayan fighters on a list of terror organizations and that has been an impediment to talks between the government and the tigrayan fighters. the government isn't ready to lift the tag. the prime minister on tuesday tweeted the ethiopian government was ready to work with its friends to make sure ethiopia gets through what he called temporary challenges it has been facing. ♪ >> let's bring in our guest. joining us from addis ababa, samuel is a journalist and nairobi. william is the senior ethiopia analyst, and emmanuelle is the

director of research at the kofi annan international peacekeeping training center. is there still time for the u.s., the e.u. to broker a cease-fire? >> i think every partner that is acceptable to both parties, who seeks to broker some initial agreement that will ring the parties around the negotiation table, is useful. but the role of the african union, i know and i do recognize it is a very tight corner, between a rock and a hard place. they need to walk a tight rope

to bring the parties together. early efforts have been rejected . they are suspicious around president's initiative that i think the african union must by all means try to bring the multiplicity of warring factions together. >> but can they still do it? is there time? has that window closed? >> there isn't much time. the opposing forces have laid down the gauntlet, and there is very little time. the forces seeking to come to addis think they have time on

their side. i think there will be a lot of forces within that agree, and other forces that would want a quick and decisive entry into addis. >> time is running out before he -- we go into the situation on the ground, william, right now there is quite a number of diplomatic efforts going on. how aligned are the interests of international powers in ethiopia right now? >> i don't think that is a major part of the problem here. whether it is the e.u. envoy, the u.s., the kenyan government, and we see the chief as well, they are pushing broadly in the same direction. they want to see the humanitarian situation addressed. that needs to come to a cease-fire and negotiations, and

the problem is any external actor. you are getting any traction with ethiopian actors. the tigrayan leadership is adopting a hard-line position, suggesting there is no real room for negotiations with the prime minister. the prime minister and his government have been resistant to the idea of negotiations from the outset. they said the tigrayan leadership committed treason and launched an insurrection. in may, they classified them as a terrorist organization. as we have seen, these increasing military victories that have put the tigray leadership in this bullish mood, all we have seen from addis abab a is doubling down, a state of emergency. no sign of recourse on negotiations. that threatens to be particularly destabilizing,

partly because the war could come to addis ababa. that could have serious effects. in the forms of increasing state oppression and perhaps more violence. an international crisis group we think more than ever, there is a need for the federal government to take action to really facilitate aid to tigray rather than choke it. we have seen the rest -- arrest of food program contractors in a key point on the a drought. we need to see the government unblock services. people are running out of cash or have run out of cash in tigray because there is no banking, no electricity. if the federal government takes these measures, that might convince the tigray leadership to stop the advance. otherwise, they look to press on, first by trying to take control of the djibouti corridor

and then i do some about. if things continue to go their way, they will press on towards addis ababa. that threatens to create destabilization. >> it looks like momentum is against peace efforts for now. let's get the perspective from addis ababa. samuel, as william noted, the rebels feel like things are on their side. what is the perspective from inside addis ababa? do people have any hope that a cease-fire can be achieved or are they resigned to a military standoff in addis ababa? >> overall, ethiopians are endorsing the idea of peace. they are a peaceloving people. it is a founding nation that founded the african union. i believe ethiopians overall do support the idea of peace.

but they also want ethiopia to be recognized as an independent nation that can decide on its own, without advice from friendly nations. overall, addis ababa has been, since the beginning of last week, concerned and worried about what is about to happen. local governments told residents to register their arms and also defend their neighborhoods. that is very vague and that scares a lot of us. overall, i think we have seen, again, this conflict is an issue among ethiopians. you either like it or hate it and you can only see the kind of conversation that has been happening, that is as toxic as it gets in social media. ethiopia has a population of more than 110 million people. it is a diplomatic capital of

africa. and i don't think anyone would want anything but peace for this country. the african union envoy has said there is a small window of opportunity. i think that should be pursued, and peace needs to come to this region. what happens in ethiopia will affect neighboring nations. >> strings do international powers have left now to pull on the different parties at war? we have seen the u.n. has pleaded for access, humanitarian access. the u.s. removed its favored trading status for ethiopia. still, the parties seem like they want to go at it. >> this is a family war. these are issues of identity, issues of power, and if used -- issues of ethnicity involved. from the perspective of both

sides, a decisive victory is there. the temporary fault basically in this conflict, propaganda, getting more people to sign up to the war itself. >> apologies, we are having a bit of difficulty with the connection. let's continue with our other guests. william, i have to ask, what would it take at this point to convince the opposition not to go for the capital? it does feel like they are very confident, and eager, to have a go at addis ababa. >> as i suggested earlier, i think given the military situation as we understand it, it seems like something concrete

needs to be put on the table to stop continued pressure. i think that pressure initiative would come -- there are current efforts by the tigray commanders to try to take control of the djibouti trade route and put pressure on addis ababa. until there are measures to facilitate a tigray where, there are hundreds of thousands of people in famine conditions. >> what kind of pressure? what are the members the -- the pressures -- the measures the international community could take to convince the opposition to pull back? >> that's what i'm talking about. there isn't any leverage. the leverage, if it exists, needs to be applied on the federal government to encourage them to take action, to relieve -- what the tigray leadership

continues -- considers a siege on the region which kills hundreds of thousands of people. unless that sort of action is taken, and it is likely that tigray leadership will press on, the alternative is the federal government and its allies try to win the war. in the last few months, they seem to have been losing the war. the issue is, there isn't that much pressure being applied by the international community. they don't have that much pressure. if you look at the statements coming out of, for example, the united nations security council the other day, all of these suggestions, urging the tigray leadership to return to tigray and stop fighting, but the tigray leadership is fighting, according to its own justifications, to overcome this siege and reclaim territory they lost at the outset of the war and remove what they see as

existential security threats to tigray. it is understandable people want them to stop fighting, but they made the decision to go on the offensive in july after moving the federal military from tigray and the eritrean military in june. that is the reality. >> let me jump in and ask, according to that scenario, if the siege is lifted by the central government forces on tigray, and they are under less pressure, would that encourage, would that really encourage the tpl f and allies to pull back if they are under less pressure? or would that encourage them to go further and say, why not finish the job? >> i think it would make, it would create a strong case for the international community, just as they are placing pressure on the federal leadership to make those sorts of meaningful concessions to try to save hundreds of thousands of

lives in tigray, i think they would be in a strong position to put pressure on the tigray leadership to stop their advance, stop trying to achieve regime change, which can be incredibly destabilizing in terms of the war coming to addis ababa. it could catalyze further state oppression and violence against tigrayan civilians. at this stage, it is certainly the sort of course of action that should be achieved. i acknowledge where your question is coming from. we have seen a bullish positioning from the tigray leadership talking about no negotiations that the prime minister and his allies, but given how critical the situation is, what needs to be done his place pressure on the federal leadership to make those concessions in terms of restoring humanitarian access and put pressure on the tigray leadership to show restraint. >> let's take it to samuel. samuel, you think the central

government wants that sort of negotiated resolution or cease-fire at least? does it want the sort of preconditions perhaps even power-sharing outing -- arrangements that might have to prevail if they lift the siege of tigray and give some space to the tpl f? >> i don't think so. the ethiopian site has already said the tpl f is a terrorist organization. they declared them as such. the tplf says the ethiopian site is creating some form of genocide. i don't see them negotiating. but the african union has been for the most part, the continent has been irrelevant in the past. the window of opportunity that this president, the president, the former president of nigeria, the african union envoy, said is really historic moment, not just for ethiopia but for the african union to really get in and make

a difference. at the beginning of his appointment, the tplf was against his appointment because they said he was in line with the ethiopian set -- side. he came to addis ababa and spoke to the prime minister, went to a far region where much of the conflict has been happening in recent weeks. the tigray conflict is also in other regions. when you have that kind of personality that is willing to be engaged and vice versa, from the main actors, i think there is a window of opportunity that shouldn't be messed. i don't think my think all actors recognize the fact that too many people are dying in ethiopia. millions of people are displaced. >> let me jump in. if the window of opportunity, listening to what -- >> if the idea of -- >> if i could jump in, if that window of opportunity hinges

according to analysis by william on pressure being brought on the ethiopian government to lift the siege, to try to improve conditions in the tigray region, if that window is based really on what the central government decides to do, and if, as you said, you don't think the central government wants to go down that road, is there really a window that is open? >> well, there is an opening. it has been seen by the african union envoy. let me address the united states for a moment. ethiopia and the united states have had a strong relationship for many years. the reality is, when they call on -- >> aid to to gray -- to tigray to achieve the peace he keeps talking about. you think age should be facilitated not, and banking services should be resumed,

telecommunications, to try to stop the tigray leadership pushing forward to addis ababa? it is a simple question. >> let's give samuel a chance to answer. >> thank you william. there is an assumption from the united states, whenever there are sanctions in countries like ethiopia, when they come to an agreement that really benefits the poorest among us, mostly young women, it doesn't pressure the ethiopian government to come to the table and negotiate. the united states has to play a role in ethiopia. i understand, i get that. the u.s. is a powerful nation. my own father -- >> i have to -- >> the reality -- >> it's really -- >> whether you think the central authorities should be willing to ease the situation in tigray. would that help? >> of course.

of course. but there is also an argument from the ethiopian side that the tplf is playing a role. look at the report that came out from amnesty international today, accusing tplf troops of sexual exploitation. this kind of accusation, as reflected by the united nations and the ethiopian human rights commission, says all actors are involved. they all have to play their roles so we can have peace. the idea to focus on one side and blame one side only is just as foolish -- >> we only have a minute left. william, what would a bigger civil war in ethiopia mean for the rest of the region? in 30 seconds. >> i think ethiopia is obviously a vital country in the horn of africa. we see a raging civil war already. forget the loss of tax breaks for exporters to the u.s.. we already have a devastated

country, it devastated economy. we have no idea how many thousands of people have died or could die, particularly as a result of the siege. we see allegations of rape and other atrocities against the tigrayan troops. if this continues, of course it could be -- >> ok. let me give 30 seconds on the same question to samuel. what would it mean for the rest of the region, for somalia and eritrea? >> it means more refugees would be heading to neighboring countries. there will be famine. it will be a breakup of relationships from countries that could really have benefits. the benefit, the relationship between ethiopia is always seen as helping ethiopia all the time, but the benefit has to be two ways forward. there has to be a way to understand the cited ethiopia, the side of tplf and bring these partners to a peaceful negotiation. that would be beneficial not only to if you'll be a and

neighboring -- ethiopia and neighboring nations but europe, which will be getting migrants. >> let's thank our guests for joining us. william, samuel. thank you for watching. you can see the show again any time by visiting our website. head over to our facebook page for further discussion. "inside story or cow -- inside story." from the whole team, for now, that's goodbye.

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- hey, i'm valerie june. ming up onreel south. - it's clear that therare hundreds of slave cemeteries in most of our counties. - [valeriescattered across virginia, historic african american grave sites have been long forgott. - [crystal] i think it's important to know where you come from, good or bad, but i don't know it's a priority for a lot of people. kind of one of these things, either you care about it or you don't. - [valerie] uncovering these cemeteries allows us to discover more than the past, an important step towards american reconciliation. witnessunmarked, up next onreel south.