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The war in the Ethiopian state of Tigray is intense after a long-standing conflict broke out in early November. But it happens a lot in secret, because the central government has restricted all communications there.
In recent statements, Tigray spokesman Getachew Reda says on television shows that the 21st Division of the Federal Army has been “destroyed” in the battles for the siege of Raya-Wahirat. The success must have been made possible by a commander joining the regional forces of the Tigranian party TPLF.
According to Reuters, Billene Seyoum, a spokesman for Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, responded that the information was not correct at all.
The government side claims instead that a large number of Tigranian soldiers appear to have heard Abiy’s ultimatum and are now giving in. Abiy has given the TPLF until Wednesday to capitulate; then the federal forces put all their efforts to conquer the regional capital, Mekele, is the message.
At the same time, the same federal government human rights body, the ECHR, confirms in a preliminary report information that Amnesty International recently brought up, about a large massacre in the city of Mai-Kadra on 9 November. The EHRC, which itself is part of a party in the war, after visits to the area concluded that at least 600 civilians who were not tigers were killed. The culprits are a local youth movement which, however, must have had the support of the local police and militias.
Amnesty, supported by sources on the ground, has described “a terrible tragedy” in the city, and that the victims “were obviously day laborers who did not participate in any way in the military offensive.”
Like more and more Desperate refugees coming from the battlefield, mainly across the border from Sudan, are generating concern in the outside world. Later on Tuesday, the United States, the UN Security Council, according to diplomats, will meet for the first time on what is happening in Tigray. But the meeting is described as informal and no swift action is expected.
Read more: Human disaster threatens Ethiopia
