( 3 minutes read)
· Thousands poured onto the streets of the Tigrayan capital of Mekele yesterday (Friday) to celebrate rebel forces taking back the once besieged city
· Waving Tigryan flag, thousands of people danced, clapped in Mekele as they welcomed the returning Tigray Defense Force soldiers
· Local residents were ecstatic in welcoming the Tigray’s defense personnel
Thousands poured onto the streets of the Tigrayan capital of Mekele yesterday (Friday) to celebrate rebel forces taking back the once besieged city. Waving Tigryan flag, thousands of people danced, clapped in Mekele as they welcomed the returning Tigray Defense Force soldiers. Local residents were ecstatic in welcoming the Tigray’s defense personnel
This was coincided with local officials and federal government troops pulling out of the area. The Tigray Defense Force has taken more control of territory in Tigray, which is the northern most region of Ethiopia. They vowed to drive out all its “enemies” including federal soldiers and their allies. Amongst the enemies, they include people from neighboring Eritrea and Ethiopia’s Amhara region.
Addis Ababa has called on the rebels to adhere to its unilateral ceasefire. There are increased fears for the plight of hundreds of thousands of people in the region enduring famine conditions, with two critical access roads destroyed this week. Though Mekele has fared better than more remote parts of Tigray, the city still is still marked by stark civilian suffering. Schools and other institutions in the city are now serving as camps for the displaced.
