Thread by @Dalatrm

#Ethiopia's "detention/abduction" of #Lebanon-#Gabon businessman Hassan Jaber is at an impasse.
Circumstances are being described as "eerily similar" 2 Morocco's arrest & extradition to US of Leb millionaire Kassim Tajeddine,a recently-sentenced #Hezbollah financial facilitator

Almost a week ago, while transiting from Gabon, Ethiopian authorities stopped Mr Jaber from boarding his flight. He has since disappeared with no word on his whereabouts.
Queries from Leb & Gabonese officials went unanswered. Ethiopia has until Monday before Lebanon "escalates"

The detention's MO while transiting & held incommunicado is very similar to that of Leb businessman Hussein Yassine in #Uganda, only a couple of months ago.
Suspected of being a #Hezbollah recruiter, he was nabbed at Entebe Airport in a joint operation with #Israel's Mossad.

@KampalaPost provided exclusive details of the operation. Yassine and his brother-in-law were released & delivered to Lebanon, a month later, following undisclosed talks with the Ugandan authorities.

With such similarities in play, The Jabers fear that the same "Hezbollah label" will be used to justify the so-far-unexplained detention of the Leb businessman. They confirmed to @AlakhbarNews that even though he has friends from Hezbollah and Amal, he's essentially "apolitical".

Already, there are angry voices calling for the abduction of Ethiopian and US nationals to force a "prisoner exchange".
Leb officials hinted to @AlakhbarNews that measures would be taken vs the 1000s of Ethiopian workers in Lebanon and the activities of their national carrier.

Meanwhile, citizens of #Nabatieh, Jaber's birthplace are organising a sit-in before the town's Serail, warning of "a limitless escalation" should no answers are provided.
"Our action isn't only bcz of him. It's to put a stop to those acts of piracy which could affect all expats"