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The conflict over the Ethiopian region of Tigray is intensifying markedly. Human rights organizations report a massacre of hundreds of civilians. The United Nations urges to protect the civilian population.
In Ethiopia’s troubled Tigray region, numerous civilians appear to have died. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, EHRC, reports at least 600 deaths. The Tigray Samri youth organization was responsible for the massacre in the city of Mai-Kadra. The victims are seasonal workers.
According to the EHRC, the attackers were extremely brutal: “they killed hundreds of people” by beating them with batons or attacking them with knives, machetes and axes. The crime occurred on November 9 and the burial of the bodies lasted days. The EHRC is an independent body close to the government. The human rights organization Amnesty International had previously reported on a massacre in Mai-Kadra, but left open the information on who was responsible for the crime.
Ultimatum expires
In the conflict over the region in the north of the country, the ruling Tigray party, the TPLF People’s Liberation Front and the army of the Ethiopian central government are fighting in Addis Ababa. Ethiopia’s head of government, Nobel Peace Prize winner Abiy Ahmed, has given the TPLF an ultimatum. If the Popular Liberation Front does not surrender by Wednesday, the army will enter the region. In the event of an attack on the regional capital, Mekele, there will be no mercy for the civilian population. The army announced that they had already surrounded Mekele and were ready for the great attack.
The TPLF refused to obey the ultimatum and claimed that government forces had suffered setbacks. Abiy is just buying time. People are willing to die to defend their homeland.
United Nations warns against attacks on civilians
The imminent attack on Mekele is of great international concern. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, called on the parties to the conflict to reduce the escalation. The already vulnerable and frightened civilian population is in great danger if artillery is used in densely populated areas. During the night, the UN Security Council will address the conflict for the first time. The committee meets behind closed doors to seek advice, but a decision is not expected, he said.
Tens of thousands on the run
According to the UN refugee agency UNHCR, the conflict has already brought more than 40,000 people to neighboring Sudan. According to the UN, around two million people in Tigray urgently need help, double the number three weeks ago.
The background to the armed conflict is the tensions between the Tigray region and the central government. The Popular Liberation Front, TPLF, ruled Ethiopia for more than 25 years, until current Prime Minister Abiy came to power in 2018. Since then, many people in Tigray do not feel represented by the central government and want more autonomy.
