We will deal with the Tigrayan crisis on our own

Ethiopia called on the international community to refrain from any unwanted interference in the crisis in the Tigray region.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed rejected the growing international consensus on the call for dialogue and an end to bloody fighting in the Tigray region in the north of the country, as “interference”.

Ahmed said in a statement issued by his office on Wednesday that “his country will deal with the conflict on its own after the 72-hour surrender deadline expires.”

And the statement continued, shortly before the end of his warning to the leaders of the Tigray region to surrender, that Ethiopia “appreciates the concerns of our friends” but “we reject any interference in our internal affairs.”

“The international community must be prepared until the Ethiopian government submits its requests for assistance from the international community,” the statement added. “We respectfully urge the international community to refrain from any unwanted and illegal acts of interference.”

Ahmed, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize last year, insists on describing the conflict as a “police operation,” as tanks surround Mekele, the capital of Tigray, in a last-ditch effort to capture TPLF leaders.

Ahmed’s government has warned the city’s half a million residents to stay away from front-line leaders “otherwise there will be no mercy,” language the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and others have warned. which could lead to “more violations of international humanitarian law”.

Communications remain almost completely disconnected from the Tigray region, which has a population of about 6 million, complicating efforts to verify the claims of the warring parties.

Given the circumstances, it is unclear how many people in Mikkeli are aware of the warnings and threat of artillery fire.