[ad_1]
A spokesman for the US State Department announced Thursday that the United States believes that the reports about the presence of Eritrean forces in the Ethiopian region of Tigray are “credible”, despite the denials of the two countries.
According to Reuters, the spokesman called on any Eritrean soldier present in the area to withdraw, saying: “We are aware of reliable reports of an Eritrean military presence in Tigray, and we consider this to be a dangerous development.”
He added: “We urge the immediate withdrawal of such forces.”
Reuters was the first to publish a US assessment on Tuesday that Eritrean soldiers had crossed the border into Ethiopian territory, helping Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government fight a northern rebel force in the country.
Abe won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 after concluding a peace agreement with Eritrea, but the presence of Eritrean forces on Ethiopian soil worries Western allies and increases the risk of conflict.
For years, Eritrea has faced accusations of widespread human rights violations, including imprisoning dissidents and forcing citizens to perform lengthy military or government service. However, Eritrea accuses the Western powers of running smear campaigns and luring Eritreans abroad, which has been repeatedly denied.
A spokesman for the US State Department announced Thursday that the United States believes that reports of the presence of Eritrean forces in the Ethiopian region of Tigray are “credible”, despite denials from the two countries.
Ethiopia is home to the headquarters of the African Union, its security forces work with its western allies and has soldiers serving peacekeeping missions in southern Sudan and Somalia.
During his speech, the US State Department spokesman referred to reports of human rights violations in Tigray, saying: “All parties must respect human rights and international humanitarian law.”
He added: “We and other international partners continue to demand an independent investigation into the reports and hold those responsible accountable.”
Ethiopia had denied that Eritrea had entered the conflict in Tigray, although Abe said last week that some government forces had withdrawn to Eritrea early in the conflict and had obtained aid.
In turn, Eritrea’s Foreign Minister Osman Saleh called the reports that he had entered the conflict “propaganda”.
Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki signed a peace agreement in 2018, after two decades of fighting between the two countries that consider the TPLF a common enemy.
The RUF claims to have killed and captured a large number of Eritrean forces in the last month in Tigray, but has not provided any proof of this. The US State Department said the front fired rockets at Eritrea at least 4 times.
Reuters reported, citing diplomatic sources, on Tuesday that Eritrean forces entered Ethiopia in mid-November through 3 border cities, which are Zalampisa, Rama and Badme.
Former Eritrean Defense Minister Mesfin Hagos, who defected from President Isaías, said in an article he posted on the internet that the Eritreans had sent 4 automatic battalions, seven infantry battalions and a commando brigade, citing sources from the Defense Ministry and the opposition and their personal relationships.
Source: News Now
