[ad_1]
In the face of further escalations in Ethiopia, fears of a civil war in the country are mounting: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government bombed targets in the rebellious Tigray region. The attacks were directed against targets in and near the regional capital Mekelle; In addition, the artillery had been destroyed, Abiy said in a statement broadcast by the state radio station Fana. The prime minister had previously tweeted that they want to restore constitutional order and protect the right of all Ethiopians to live a peaceful life.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner had already sent the army to the Tigray region on Wednesday because the regional government allegedly attacked a military base. Tigray province is governed by the Popular Liberation Front (TPLF), which is critical of the Addis Ababa government.
The TPLF has targeted members of the federal police in the region several times in recent days, and looting has occurred in Tigray, federal police chief Endeshaw Tassew said, according to state media.
Abiy Ahmed has been viewed as a reformer since his election in 2018. Among other things, he received the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to achieve peace in the Horn of Africa. However, ethnic tensions and conflicts increased again during his tenure.
The conflict between Abiy and the Tigray regional government has been dormant since he took office: the prime minister is fighting for a stronger central state rather than a strong federal state, the TPLF wants to ensure its regional independence in Tigray. Observers fear that the new fighting could see Ethiopia slide into open military conflict.
Foreign Minister Maas fears supra-regional conflict
Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas expressed concern about the fighting. “The parties must act immediately, stop the fighting and start the talks,” said the SPD politician. Mediation offers should be used, especially from the African Union (AU). Otherwise, there is a risk that the conflict will spread beyond Ethiopia’s borders.
The TPLF was the dominant party in the party coalition that ruled Ethiopia with a heavy hand for more than 25 years. This changed when Abiy came to power in 2018: he initiated reforms, removed former officials and founded a new party, which the TPLF, previously represented in the party coalition, did not join. The TPLF and many people in Tigray do not feel represented by the central government and would like to see more autonomy.
