Ethiopia says Eritrean troops have started to withdraw from Tigray

NAIROBI (Reuters) – Eritrean forces have begun to withdraw from Ethiopia’s Tigray region in the north, the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry said.

The United States, Germany, France and other G7 countries called on Friday for a swift, unconditional and verifiable withdrawal of Eritrean soldiers, followed by a political process that is acceptable to all Ethiopians.

In a reply issued Saturday night through the Foreign Ministry, Ethiopia said the G7 foreign ministers’ statement had failed to acknowledge the key steps being taken to address the region’s needs.

“Eritrean troops who had crossed the border when provoked by the TPLF have now started to evacuate and the Ethiopian National Defense Force has taken over the surveillance of the national border,” it said in a statement.

Fighting broke out in Tigray in early November after forces loyal to the ruling party at the time, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), attacked military bases throughout the region. In late November, federal troops drove the TPLF out of the capital, Mekelle, and the Ethiopian government declared victory.

Thousands of people died in the conflict, hundreds of thousands have been forced from their homes, and there are shortages of food, water and medicine in the region. The government says most of the fighting has stopped, but there are still isolated incidents of shooting.

Humanitarian organizations have now been granted full access to the region, the Foreign Ministry said, adding that a joint investigation with outside experts into alleged human rights violations will soon begin.

“While the government … honesty appreciates the concerns expressed, it has already become too obvious that the provision of food and medical aid should be the crux of expressions of concern,” the ministry said.