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Tigrayans mobilize to confront the Addis Ababa army
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed confirmed that the military operation launched by the army in the northern region of Tigray has “clear, limited and easily achievable” objectives.
The regional commander, Debrechan Gebirmichael, accused Abi Ahmed’s government weeks ago of trying to invade the region, leading many to fear that the military moves would spark a civil war.
The Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, called for an immediate halt to the escalation in Ethiopia, expressing “deep concern” about what is happening.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also called for an urgent reduction to “protect civilians.”
What are the latest news?
The Federal Army has mobilized more soldiers and equipment in the northern regions surrounding the province.
General Berhanu Gula, deputy chief of staff, said the soldiers had been mobilized from the rest of the country with the aim of supporting the army’s northern region in its operations in the Tigray region.
The Ethiopian Army Northern Command headquarters is located in the Tigray region and was controlled by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.
And Abi Ahmed confirmed in two tweets on his Twitter account that the operation was “limited” and necessary as a last resort after attempts to peacefully resolve the dispute with great patience that lasted for several months.
This comes after Gebermichael announced that the Tigrayans had taken control of all the weapons and equipment that were in the army’s northern region headquarters.
It is dangerous?
It is difficult to know the extent of the seriousness of the confrontations between the two parties, nor the number of victims due to the interruption of the Internet and telephone lines in the region, despite the partial return of electricity.
Likewise, during all the conversations he gave, Abi Ahmed refused to give information on this aspect, highlighting that all the information will be provided once the process is finished.
Gebermichael stressed that regional forces are ready to fight in defense of the region and its lands, and that it will be a “graveyard of reactionaries.”
Tigrayans have distinctive traditional clothing and culture
The Prime Minister accused the “Tigray People’s Liberation Movement” of continuing provocation and incitement to violence, noting that “the last red line has been violated.”
General Berhanu accused the movement of “treason.”
These statements led observers to express their fear that this process could be the beginning of a civil war, but the Prime Minister reduces these possibilities in his speeches.
Relations between the front and the government in Addis Ababa have long been strained, especially after the movement used to control power in the country through political alliances, but all that faded after Abiy Ahmed won the presidency. two years ago.
And Abiy Ahmed dissolved the ruling multi-ethnic political alliance based on many local political parties and reconstituted it into a party called the Prosperity Party, but the Tigray People’s Liberation Front refused to join the party.
Addis Ababa accused some of the front’s leaders of fleeing the judiciary and opposing attempts at political reform launched by Abi Ahmed.
Relations completely collapsed after the front held local elections last September, despite objection from the federal government.
The federal government of Ethiopia decided to postpone the elections across the country due to the outbreak of the Crown epidemic, but the Tigrayan government held the elections on time.
Addis Ababa made the elections illegal.
Despite promises from the front to preserve the region’s presence in the country under federal government control in the past, it currently supports the defense of the region’s autonomy and opposes what Abiy Ahmed calls an attempt to build a strong federal system in the country.
Addis Ababa also declared a state of emergency in the region for a period of six months, including a ban on flying and the total closure of the region’s borders.
