NAIROBI (Reuters] – In response to violence, the United States ordered that non-emergency U.S. Government employees be evacuated from Ethiopia, according to its embassy at Addis Ababa.

Italy and Denmark asked citizens of Ethiopia to flee while they still had commercial flights, because the rebel Tigrayan force and its allies are moving towards Addis Ababa.

Prime Minister Abiy Alam’s government, embroiled in an almost one-year-long conflict with Tigrayan forces has pledged to fight on despite requests for peace from African countries, Western states, and the U.N. Security Council.

Incidents of ethnic violence and civil unrest are happening without warning. According to the U.S. Embassy’s website, “The situation could escalate further and can cause supply chain shortages and communications blackouts and travel disruptions.”

Reuters reached out to Legesse Tulu, the spokesperson for government, and Billene Seyoum, Abiy’s spokesperson.

On Tuesday, Abiy declared a state of emergency. It stated that it was in “existential warfare” with the forces from northern Tigray and their allies.

Getachew Reda (Tigray People’s Liberation Front) spokeswoman for the TPLF accused Abiy, who used emergency powers to imprison “thousands and Oromos”

Reuters requested comment from the government spokesperson Jeylan Absdi and federal police spokesperson Jeylan Abduldi but did not reply to Reuters immediately.

Police denied Thursday that the arrests made in capital following the declaration of the emergency state were motivated by ethnicity.

Fasika Fante, a spokesperson for the police said that only those are being arrested who support the terrorist organization illegally. This was referring to the TPLF. This includes financial, moral and propagandistic support.

Friday’s announcement by the TPLF revealed an alliance of other factions with Abiy in order to take power. It also said that force would be used if necessary.

Abiy’s mandate was based on June’s landslide victory in the elections. It appealed to international partners for assistance in protecting Ethiopia’s democracy.

Conflict in northern Ethiopia began a year ago, when the Tigray region was seized by forces loyal to the TPLF.

Abiy deployed troops to the area, which initially drove the TPLF away from the capital. However, they’ve faced a drastic reversal of fortunes since June.

Reuters received this week a report from the TPLF, along with their allies, that they were currently in Kemise in Amhara state. This is approximately 325 km (200 mi) from the capital.

The government charges the group with exaggerating territorial gains.

Legesse, the government spokesperson said that fighting was occurring at least 100km (60 miles) north Shewa Robit. This town is located on an highway linking the capital with Ethiopia’s northern region. It seems that fighting has erupted south from Kombulcha, which the TPLF claims it captured last weekend.

This conflict resulted in the deaths of many people and forced 2 million more people to flee their homes. Tigray saw 400,000 faces famine.

Twitter (NYSE:), and Facebook (NASDAQ:) took action to curb what they called abuses of their policies from Ethiopian accounts. They also removed a post made by Abiy’s official Facebook profile.

Twitter stated that on Saturday, it temporarily removed the Trends section from its Ethiopian service due to physical danger. It showcases most frequently tweeted topics and was there for threats of harm.

“Inciting violence against people or dehumanizing them is against our rules.” The company stated that Trends in Ethiopia has been temporarily disabled due to the threat of bodily harm.