[ad_1]
The latest explosions came just hours after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared victory in his government’s fight against the forces of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, which runs the northern Tigray region that borders Eritrea. .
A member of the Amhara Special Forces observes at the border crossing with Eritrea where an Ethiopian imperial flag flies, in Humera, Ethiopia, on November 22, 2020 (AFP).
Rockets fired from the Tigray region in northern Ethiopia have again struck the Eritrean capital, while the US embassy in Asmara reported “six explosions” in the city.
The “explosions”, which according to the embassy occurred “around 10:13 pm” (19:13 GMT) on Saturday night, occurred hours after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared victory in his military campaign against Tigray’s ruling party, the Tigray People’s. Liberation Front (TPLF).
The TPLF justified that attack by accusing Ethiopia of gaining Eritrean military support for its campaign in Tigray, something Ethiopia denies.
Two Addis Ababa-based diplomats said multiple rockets fired late Saturday appeared to have targeted the Asmara airport and military facilities, though as in previous attacks, it was unclear where they landed and what damage they might have caused .
‘Complete and cease’ Tigray’s offensive
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed previously said that military operations in the region had been completed, shortly after he announced that federal troops had taken full control of the regional capital of Tigray.
“I am pleased to share that we have completed and ceased military operations in the Tigray region,” Abiy tweeted on Saturday.
“We have been able to enter the city of Mekelle without targeting innocent civilians.”
Ethiopia’s military said it gained full control of Mekelle after Tigray TV reported that the city of half a million people was being “heavily bombed” in the latest effort to arrest the region’s leaders.
The army chief of staff, General Birhanu Jula, made the comment while speaking on an Ethiopian state broadcast.
None mentioned the arrest of any of the leaders of the Tigray Popular Liberation Front (TPLF), which runs the region.
“Our focus now will be on rebuilding the region and providing humanitarian assistance while the Federal Police detain the TPLF clique,” Prime Minister Abiy said.
The leader of the Tigray rebel forces told the Reuters news agency in a text message that they will continue to fight the Ethiopian government hours after the government’s statement.
“Their brutality can only add (to) our determination to fight these invaders to the end,” Debretsion Gebremichael said in a message. When asked by Reuters in a text message if that meant his forces would continue to fight, he replied: “Certainly. It is about defending our right to self-determination ”.
Earlier, Gebremichael told Reuters in a text message that Mekelle was under “heavy bombardment.”
The Ethiopian army “has begun to attack the center of Mekelle with heavy weapons and artillery,” the local government said in a statement released by Tigrayan media, a claim confirmed by two humanitarian officials with staff in the city.
“The regional state of Tigray calls on all with a clear conscience, including the international community, to condemn the artillery and fighter jets and the massacres that are being committed,” the statement said.
The Ethiopian army said on Saturday it would take control of Mekelle “in a few days,” according to a report by the state-owned Fana Broadcasting Corporate.
The fight resumes after the ultimatum
Billene Seyoum, Spokesperson for the Prime Minister Abiy ahmedThe Ethiopia office said Ethiopian forces will not “bomb” civilian areas, adding that “the security of Ethiopians in the Mekelle and Tigray region remains a priority for the federal government.”
The government gave the TPLF an ultimatum last Sunday to lay down its arms or face an assault on Mekelle, a city of 500,000, sparking fears among aid groups of a large number of civilian casualties. The ultimatum expired on Wednesday.
Abiy told African peace envoys on Friday that his government will protect civilians in Tigray. But Abiy has said that he regards the conflict as an internal matter and his government has so far rejected attempts at mediation.
“The United States is deeply concerned about the worsening situation in the Tigray region,” US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft tweeted after the bombing began.
He called for dialogue, the protection of civilians and access to aid.
“I invite everyone to pray for Ethiopia, where armed clashes have escalated and are causing a serious humanitarian situation,” Pope Francis tweeted.
READ MORE: Ethiopian forces surround Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, when the ultimatum expires
A map showing the federal states of Ethiopia and the northern region of Tigray where the conflict continues. (TRTWorld)
Incursions into Eritrean refugee camps
TPLF leader Debretsion also accused the army of the neighboring Eritrea nation of raiding refugee camps in Tigray to capture refugees who had fled Eritrea.
Reuters could not immediately obtain comment from the Eritrean government, which has not responded to Reuters calls for more than two weeks.
The claims of all parties are difficult to verify, as telephone and Internet links to the region have been down and access is strictly controlled since clashes began three weeks ago between government forces and the TPLF.
The TPLF and Eritrea are archenemies: The TPLF was in charge in Addis Ababa when Ethiopia and Eritrea fought a war between 1998 and 2000.
But Eritrea and Abiy have good relations. The Ethiopian government has denied the TPLF’s accusations that Eritrean troops are operating on Ethiopian soil.
Eritrea is one of the most repressive nations in the world. It has never had elections and no independent media has operated there for two decades. Upon reaching the age of 18, Eritrean men and women are required to enter compulsory service in the state for an indefinite period of time. About 10 percent of the population has fled.
On Friday night in Eritrea, “a loud noise, possibly an explosion” was heard in the capital Asmara, the US embassy said in a statement early Saturday.
The TPLF rockets reached Eritrea on November 14.
READ MORE: Ethiopia’s new stance on Eritrean asylum seekers criticized
Letter to envoys threatens expulsion
On Friday, a letter was sent to embassies in Addis Ababa warning defense attachés that they risked expulsion if they were in contact with anonymous enemies of Ethiopia.
“Some military attachés are working with those who endangered the security of the country, identified on the black list and wanted by a court lawyer,” the letter says.
The letter was stamped by Brigadier General Boultie Tadesse of the Defense Foreign Relations Directorate, in the copy that was shown to Reuters.
“We will expel those who do not refrain from their actions and are in contact with this extremist group.”
A military spokesman and the head of the government’s Tigray task force did not respond to requests for comment.
Billene, the prime minister’s spokeswoman, said she could not answer questions about the letter, even if it referred to the TPLF, without seeing the original document.
READ MORE: UN urges civil protection as Ethiopia warns of ‘merciless’ assault
UN – Sudan needs $ 150 million to help refugees
The Ethiopian army has been fighting forces in the northern region of Tigray, which borders the nations of Eritrea and Sudan, since November 4.
Abiy accuses the Tigray leaders of starting the war by attacking federal troops at a base in Tigray. The TPLF says the attack was a preemptive strike.
Thousands of people are believed to have been killed and there has been widespread destruction from aerial bombardment and ground fighting since the war began. About 43,000 refugees have fled to Sudan.
“Sudan needs $ 150 million over six months to provide these refugees with water, shelter and health services,” United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi told Um Raquba camp on Saturday. 80 kilometers from the border.
Grandi called on “donors to provide Sudan with these resources as soon as they can.”
Long repressed tensions
The Tigrayans, who make up about six percent of Ethiopia’s 115 million people, dominated the government until Abiy took power two years ago.
Abiy vowed to unite Ethiopians and introduce freedoms after years of state repression that filled prisons with tens of thousands of political prisoners. His government also prosecuted senior Tigray officials for crimes such as corruption, torture and murder.
The Tigrayan region viewed those trials as discrimination.
Abiy’s reforms created more political space, but they also removed long-held tensions over land and resources.
READ MORE: Ethiopia’s Abiy rejects talks with Tigray leaders ahead of planned assault
Source: TRTWorld and agencies
