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The conflict between the Ethiopian government and the separatist region of Tigray threatens to spread to neighboring Eritrea. The TPLF, the popular liberation front that rules the troubled Tigray region of northern Ethiopia, announced on Sunday it would launch rocket attacks on the capital of neighboring Eritrea. According to diplomats, several projectiles struck near the Asmara airport on Saturday.
TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael told AFP news agency that the Asmara airport was also used by Ethiopian soldiers. According to him, the planes are taking off from Asmara to carry out air strikes in Tigray. This makes the airport a “legitimate destination,” Gebremichael added. The Popular Liberation Front rejects the central government in Addis Ababa and accuses Eritrea of supporting the central government. According to its own information, the TPLF fought “16 divisions” of the Eritrean armed forces in recent days.
It was not initially clear how many shells were fired at Eritrea and what damage was caused. Erena radio station reported a total of four explosions, citing Asmara residents. The US embassy in Asmara announced on its website that there was no evidence that the airport was hit.
Tension for months
There has been tension in the separatist border region of Tigray for months. The TPLF ruling does not recognize Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Only last year did he receive the Nobel Peace Prize for the peace he had negotiated with Eritrea. However, earlier this month he sent forces to Tigray. This completely broke out the military conflict between the Ethiopian central government forces in Addis Ababa and the TPLF fighters.
The Ethiopian head of government said the fighting in the separatist region of Tigray would end soon. However, in fact, the conflict could widen and destabilize the entire Horn of Africa region.
The People’s Liberation Front also committed to two rocket attacks on airports in Ethiopian Amhara region, which borders Tigray, on Saturday. According to a doctor in Gondar, Amhara region, two soldiers were killed and 15 wounded in the attacks.
Observers fear that Amhara could be drawn into the conflict between Tigray and the central government. According to local security forces, thousands of Amhara militias have now gone to Tigray to fight alongside government troops.
At least 34 victims
The Ethiopian human rights commission EHRC reported at least 34 victims on Sunday in an attack on a bus in the western Ethiopian region of Benishangul-Gumuz. The region borders Amhara. Initially, the background for this attack was unclear.
The human rights organization Amnesty International also reported Thursday on a massacre of civilians in Tigray, allegedly killing hundreds. Those responsible for the attack in the city of Mai-Kadra were initially unknown.
According to the Sudanese news agency Suna, almost 25,000 Ethiopians fled to neighboring Sudan due to the recent conflicts over Tigray. Consequently, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, is working to establish new camps, “for security reasons”, away from the border with Ethiopia.
