(4 minutes read)
· The Tigray region’s dissident leaders had fled west of the regional capital after weeks of fighting, according to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. He however, indicated federal forces were monitoring them closely and would attack them soon
· The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which is government-affiliated but independent, also noted complaints of ethnic profiling including “forced leave from work” and travel restrictions
· The body also called for telecommunications be restored and for water, electricity, and health services to resume
The Tigray region’s dissident leaders had fled west of the regional capital after weeks of fighting, according to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. He however, indicated federal forces were monitoring them closely and would attack them soon. Abiy ordered military operations against Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), in response to what he said were TPLF-organized attacks on Ethiopian federal army camps. Incidentally Abiy is the winner of last year’s Nobel Peace Prize.
The fight between the federal soldiers and pro-TPLF forces has left thousands dead in the northern region. Close to 50,000 people fled to neighboring Sudan. Abiy appealed to people who fled to Sudan to come back and the government would do whatever possible, at the earliest, to rebuild the region particularly setting right the infrastructure and repairing the damaged buildings.
Federal forces claimed control of the Tigray regional capital Mekele. The fight between the federal forces and TPLF escalated in the last few weeks. The TPLF dominated Ethiopian politics for nearly three decades before anti-government protests swept Abiy to office in 2018.
The fight has engaged global attention. Mekele, the capital city had witnessed tension the last few weeks. The Trigay region, before the fight, had a population of half a million. Reports indicate that there were heavy casualties in the fight from both sides. Global concern also poured in urging ending the fight through peaceful process.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said that hospitals in Mekele were full of trauma patients and injured people. Abiy rebutted the claim of the TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael that airstrikes had resulted in many civilian casualties.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which is government-affiliated but independent, also noted complaints of ethnic profiling including “forced leave from work” and travel restrictions. The body also called for telecommunications be restored and for water, electricity, and health services to resume.
