Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's national security adviser said the government had "accepted this invitation" while the leader of rebel-held . Both campaigns produced disinformation and misinformation, though the majority of content produced was activist in nature. As per Reuters, Ethiopian forces have carried out aerial bombardment in Tigrays regional capital city of Mekelle for at least four days this week. The Tigray . [259][260] Ethiopian forces then took Alamata and Korem in the south. [283] The victory of Ethiopian forces over Dessie and Kombolcha in December 2021 was partly due to the drones supplied by Ethiopia's allies. The conflict errupted in November 2020 when Abiy Ahmed deployed the army in a bid to topple Tigrayan leaders who had been challenging his authority for months. Two years after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, his country is engulfed in a war with the potential to destabilize the whole region for decades to come, says DW's Ludger Schadomsky. [107], The Ethiopian government and its supporters have accused the TPLF of trying to re-establish their rule over the country through violence and force. However, no one except the US wants to support the TPLF fighters in their bid to break up the nation of Ethiopia. [346][347] All parties to the conflict have been accused by USAID of looting aid shipments. An Ethiopian government delegation, including the prime minister's national security advisor Redwan Hussein and several ministers, visited Tigray's capital Mekele on December 26, marking a major. [173][174], On 22 June 2021, an Ethiopian military cargo plane was shot down over Samre, marking a turn of the war in the TDF's favor. Did Ukraine use innocent civilians as human shield against Russia in the name of evacuation? [181], On 6 July 2021, the Tigrayan government mobilised to retake western Tigray from Amhara forces. Tigrayan rebels said Wednesday they have begun handing in their heavy weapons, a key part of a deal signed more than two months ago to end a deadly conflict in northern Ethiopia. [67][152] The Tigray government vowed to continue fighting. [110][267] Still, negotiations continued onward, and on 2 November, Ethiopia and the TPLF announced that they had signed an agreement for a cessation of hostilities (made effective the next day on 3 November, marking the two-year anniversary of the war);[50] however, Eritrea and other warring parties were not involved in the agreement, leaving their status ambiguous. The UAE hasnt revealed what the cargo flights carry, but it is believed that they are being used to transport military equipment to Ethiopia. Two thousand displaced people returned to the Fant Rasu zone in Afar Region after the ENDF and Afar Special Forces regained control and OCHA partner organisations' access to improved. But the state-appointed Ethiopian Human Rights Commission has documented extrajudicial killings by government troops. "[155], The new offensive effectively ended the unilateral ceasefire declared by the federal government in June[203] and further deepened fears of the developing famine in Tigray, with a federal government blockade still preventing most aid from arriving. Meanwhile, the UAE seems to be further assuring Ethiopia about its support. Fighting is raging Ethipia since November 4 when Abiy attacked Tigray state accusing the TPLF of attacking two federal military camps in the region. "[381], The media restrictions resulted in what has been described as an "information blackout. In early 2018, after severalyears of frequent anti-government protests from different ethnic groups had seriously damaged the legitimacy of the EPRDF government, Hailemariam stepped down. [238][237][239], On 27 August, the TDF captured the town of Kobo, following the ENDF's withdrawal. 9 - September 2022", "Ethiopia: UN says 20,000 refugees missing in Tigray", "Nearly half the people in Ethiopia's Tigray in 'severe' need of food aid, World Food Programme says", "Surge of dehumanizing hate speech points to mounting risk of mass atrocities in northern Ethiopia, experts say", "Ethiopia's Tigray war: The short, medium and long story", "Inside a military base in Ethiopia's Tigray: soldiers decry betrayal by former comrades", "Ethiopia's Tigray crisis: How a soldier survived an 11-hour gun battle", "Ethiopia war: UN investigative Human rights commission debuts 6-day visit", "Ethiopia peace deal hailed as a 'new dawn', "Agreement for Lasting Peace through a Permanent Cessation of Hostilities between the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Tigray People's Liberation Front", "Ethiopia sends army into Tigray region, heavy fighting reported", "Exclusive: U.S. thinks Eritrea has joined Ethiopian war, diplomats say", "Concern of Outright War in Ethiopia Grows as PM Presses Military Offensive", "Ethiopia says military operation in Tigray region is over, hunt for Tigray leaders begins", "Ethiopia's Tigray crisis: Army 'takes regional capital of Mekelle', "Ethiopia: 'We are in our homeland, the invaders are attacking us,' says Tigray's Gebremichael", "In Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed's forces have won the battle but not the war", "Ethiopia's government announce ceasefire as Tigrayan troops retake region's capital", "Tigrayan and Oromo forces say they have seized towns on Ethiopian highway", "Ethiopia declares state of emergency as Tigrayan rebels gain ground", "Ethiopia's Tigray forces seek new military alliance", "Ethiopia declares unilateral truce to allow aid into Tigray", "Fighting in northern Ethiopia shatters months-long truce", "Parties in Ethiopia conflict agree to cease hostilities", "Ethiopia: Unlawful Shelling of Tigray Urban Areas", "Fleeing Ethiopians Tell of Ethnic Massacres in Tigray War", "Rapid Investigation into Grave Human Rights Violation Maikadra - Preliminary Findings", "Joint UN, Ethiopia rights team: all sides committed abuses in Tigray", "In an out-of-sight war, a massacre comes to light", "Tigray forces killed 120 civilians in village in Amhara - Ethiopia officials", "Ethiopia: Tigrayan forces murder, rape and pillage in attacks on civilians in Amhara towns", "Ethiopia: Tigray Forces Summarily Execute Civilians", "Situation Report EEPA HORN No. [254] Tigray mobilized its citizens too, calling on every able-bodied person to join the fight. "[222] On 12 December, Reuters reported that forces loyal to the TPLF had recaptured the town of Lalibela less than two weeks after government forces and their allies had recaptured control of the town for themselves. In 2018, following anti-government protests, Abiy Ahmed took over as PM and introduced reforms Powerful politicians from Tigray, Ethiopia's northernmost state, accused Mr Abiy of trying to. [217][218][219][220] On 6 December, government forces claimed to have recaptured the strategic cities of Dessie and Kombolcha. [209], On 2 November 2021, as the counter-offensive came deeper into federal-controlled territory, the Ethiopian government declared a six-month state of emergency, which envisages the possibility to arrest and detain critics of the government without a court warrant, impose curfews, institute censorship, restrict freedom of movement as well as to call any adult person to fight in the war, for fear of serving from three to ten years in prison. 41 other refugees interviewed have also described attacks, looting, and threats by Amhara forces. Aside from Tigrayan rebel forces, he said that much of that area was under the control of the EDF, pursuing their own objectives independent of Ethiopian command. So, what makes Ethiopia so important that the UAE too decided to defy the US and back Addis Ababa? [33] In 1984-1985, the TPLF redirected Western aid intended for starving civilians in order to purchase weapons. [322][323] Such sexual violence is often accompanied with other forms of physical and mental abuse, including burning their victims with hot iron or cigarettes, forcing metal rods or nails into their victim's genitals,[323][315] raping their victim in front of their family members, forcing their victims to rape their family members, calling their victims by derogatory words and ethnic slurs, etc. [154][53] This retreat was partially caused by the fact that a large portion of the TDF's artillery had been destroyed by air strikes. Of these, this includes: an emergency Intergovernmental Authority on Development summit in December 2020;[386] a joint statement by the National Congress of Great Tigray, the Tigray Independence Party, and Salsay Weyane Tigray describing their eight pre-conditions for peace in February 2021;[387] a mediation group called "A3+1," (consisting of three African countries, Kenya, Niger and Tunisia, and one non-African country, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) in JulyAugust 2021;[388] and a MarchAugust 2022 ceasefire wherein Ethiopian and Tigrayan officials attempted to negotiate a peaceful end to the conflict. Issued on: 11/01/2023 - 14:00. The African Union-brokered agreement includes the withdrawal of foreign forces from Tigray, the restoration of basic services and humanitarian aid, and the disarming of Tigray rebels. 2 min. It is pushing a misleading narrative that projects the Tigray fighters as victims and the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed as some sort of an aggressor. Since the start of the conflict, the Ethiopian federal government has strictly controlled access to the Tigray Region, and the UN has said it is frustrated that talks with the Ethiopian government had not yet secured adequate humanitarian access for "food, including ready-to-use therapeutic food for the treatment of child malnutrition, medicines, water, fuel, and other essentials that are running low" said UNICEF. Click here to subscribe to our free newsletter, Copyright: 1978 - 2020 H H Saudi Research and Marketing LTD, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement, https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3171886/ethiopia-accuses-sudan-supporting-tigray-rebels, Ethiopia Accuses Sudan of Supporting Tigray Rebels, Ethiopians who fled the fighting in Tigray cross the Tekeze River into neighboring Sudan (Reuters), Trump to Make First 2024 Campaign Appearance in South Carolina, Egyptian-Jordanian-Palestinian Summit Rejects Israeli Unilateralism, Saved from Death at Sea, Syrian Refugees Face Deportation, Jordan: Army Foils Drug Smuggling Attempt from Syria, Syria Witnesses Dangerous Rise in Cholera Deaths, Warnings of Catastrophe in North, Sudani, McGurk Discuss Bolstering Iraqi-American Cooperation, UAE Looking Forward to Effective Partnership on Climate Issues at COP28, Saudi Crown Prince Launches Investment Fund on Culture, Tourism, Entertainment, Sports, Iraq Says Ties with Arab World Have Entered New Phase, A seagull is seen during a rain delay during the 2023 Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Tuesday, January 17, 2023. [180] On 30 June 2021, the TDF had entered the town of Shire, some 140 kilometres (87mi) northwest of Mekelle, after it had been abandoned by Eritrean troops. Abiy also reportedly imports drones from Iran and Turkey to use against Tigray's population, hospitals, and aid convoys. A number of reports have been made alleging that China, Iran, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates were all providing military support for the Ethiopian government via the sale of weaponized drones. Currently, Ethiopia seems to be in a comfortable position. [108] In turn, the TPLF has accused the federal government of accumulating too much power for itself, and that it was engaging in ethnic discrimination of Tigrayans. The Ethiopian army announced that it had thwarted an attempt by elements allied with Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) to infiltrate Sudan's territory to the GERD site to disrupt its construction. for investment needs. [122] As tension continued to grow, a brigadier general appointed by Abiy was prevented by the Tigray government from taking up his military post. He would go on to rule the countryuntil his death in 2012, and was succeeded by Hailemariam Desalegn. Resentment has festered futher under current Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who is himself an Oromo. Bidens humanitarian intervention in Ethiopia is thus a non-starter as Ethiopia pushes back against TPLF insurgents and also sustains its ambitious growth story. In the same announcement, the Ethiopian government stated that all Eritrean forces had withdrawn from the region, though this was not confirmed by the Eritrean government. Ethiopia itself is located close to war-torn Yemen. Beginning to December 2020. The International Crisis Group claimed that the TDF now controlled most of the Tigray region. But the East African nation is clearly maneuvering its relations between big powers like China and Russia. The report noted that before the war began, Somali forces under the leadership of the Eritrean Army had been stationed in trenches along the border. [360], UNICEF stated that by the end of September 2022, around 574,000 more people in Afar, Amhara and Tigray were left displaced after fighting resumed in August 2022; they also reported that over 870,000 had become refugees. In fact, many of the Caracal International products are in service with a special Ethiopian force called the Republican Guard (RG), which is tasked with defending Ethiopian officials and key buildings. [141][142][c][143] In the late hours of 13 November 2020, Tigray forces fired a rocket towards the airports of Bahir Dar and Gondar in the Amhara Region. , Ethiopia has managed to decimate the US-backed Tigray fighters with relentless aerial bombardment. . [117][118] Ethiopia considered the Tigray election to be illegal, and responded by slashing federal funding to the region, a decision the TPLF described as "tantamount to declaration of war. Amhara comprises 28% of the total population. [198][199], On 8 October 2021, the TPLF said that an intensive air campaign by the Ethiopian Air Force began against TDF positions in the North Wollo and North Gondar zones of the Amhara Region, mostly around the towns of Wegeltena, Wurgessa and Haro. [206] On 31 October, the TDF claimed to have captured Kombolcha, a town 21km (13mi) east of Dessie, and the Ethiopian government accused the TDF of massacring over 100 youths in the town. A month later, the federal government began withholding funds from the regional administration. [184] Following the TDF's rapid advances, Abiy threatened to resume war with Tigray and crush the rebels, raising fears of genocide. Under Obama, the US promoted the Arab Spring in several Arab nations. [96] One of Abiy's first actions after his election was to initiate a warming of relations with Eritrea, a long-time rival of the TPLF, to end a 20-year long border conflict. WHO boss Dr Tedros denies supporting Tigray leaders. "[382] Many journalists, both local and international, have noted the difficulty they face with trying to report on the war, as they risk the possibility of getting either killed or imprisoned by government forces. [223] Nevertheless, by the end of the month, the federal government had successfully repelled the incursion towards Addis Ababa, and Tigrayan forces were pushed back to Tigray. "[313][314] On 1 November 2021, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stated that "we should closely follow those who work for the enemy and live amongst us," as reports of a new roundup of ethnic Tigrayans came out of Addis Ababa. Ethiopia is looking at Iran and the UAE for acquiring new weapons and it is the UAE that seems to be winning the race. With a left-wing nationalist ideology, they vowed to fight for the rights of Tigrayans, a relatively small ethnic group that account for just 5% of the population and had long been marginalized by the central government. On Friday, even a UN aid plane couldnt. . The military claimed without providing any evidence that the WHO chief was trying to procure arms for Tigray state's main political party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which is fighting the federal government. [379] In November 2021 (during the 20212022 state of emergency), the Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA) threatened to cancel the media licences of BBC News, Reuters, CNN and Associated Press, accusing the news organisations of having "consistently disseminated news that sowed seeds of animosity among people and compromised the sovereignty of the country." [229] On 26 January, the Ethiopian council of ministers also proposed to end the state of emergency. [362] One refugee interviewed by Reuters said that if they didn't leave when they did, they would have been killed by Amhara forces. By supporting the war on Tigray, it might be hoping to get the support of Abiy and Isaias for its internal centralization project. Photo: Gerald Matzka/dpa, 17 January 2023, Spain, Palma: A man with an umbrella walks past Christmas decorations damaged by strong winds in Palma. The conflict in Tigray has cast a pall over Abiy's presidency, in the wake of his 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for domestic reform and forging peace with neighboring Eritrea. Ethiopia's government has declared a national state of emergency and ordered residents of Addis Ababa to prepare to defend their neighborhoods. [173] The statement also confirmed reports of two massacres in Tigray, stating that 229 civilians were killed in the town of Mai Kadra at the beginning of November 2020, and accusing Eritrean forces of killing 110 civilians in Axum later that same month. [121], In late October 2020, the Ethiopian Reconciliation Commission stated that it was trying to mediate between the federal government and the TPLF, as well as the other regional governments, but that the pre-conditions set by all sides were blocking progress. The war was primarily fought in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia between the Ethiopian federal government and Eritrea on one side, and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) on the other.. After years of increased tensions and hostilities between the TPLF and the governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea . Tigray's regional special forces, which a senior Ethiopian diplomat estimates have grown to at least 20,000 commandosled by senior Tigrayan officers forced into retirement by Abiy, plus a . [164], On 9 January 2021, Ethiopian TV reported that 300 refugees in Hitsats camp were executed by the TPLF. "Tigray has handed over its heavy weapons as part of its commitment to implementing the #Pretoria agreement" that was signed between Ethiopia's government and Tigrayan rebels, Tigray People's. Tigrayan rebels have killed more than 150 civilians in the Amhara region on suspicion of being informants or offering aid to federal forces, the government-affiliated Ethiopian Human Rights . [312], Ethnic Tigrayan members of Ethiopian components of United Nations peacekeeping missions were disarmed and some forcibly flown back to Ethiopia, at the risk of torture or execution, according to United Nations officials. In the mid-1970s, a small group of militiamen founded the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). Fighting broke out in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region in November 2020 after the central government accused Tigrayan fighters of attacking a federal army base and sending forces to the region . [356][366] As of 2 February 2021, 20,000 of the Eritrean refugees in Tigray, mostly from the Hitsats and Shimelba camps, remained unaccounted for, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. In early November 2020, TPLF forces were accused of having attacked and looted federal military bases in the region. Amhara and Eritrean forces also controlled parts of Tigray in the west and north, respectively. The Tigray region has been at the epicenter of an ethnic civil war for nearly a year now. [146], From 17 to 19 November, Ethiopian forces captured the Raya district and the towns of Shire, Alamata, Adwa, and Axum,[147][148] and began moving towards Adigrat. 11 Jan 2023 0. He also claimed clashes were taking place near Weldiya and that fighting had resumed in Afar, within the Awra and Chifra districts near the Amhara border. [170], Fighting intensified in early April;[154] by this point, the TDF was in control of the rural areas of central and southern Tigray along with parts of eastern and south-eastern Tigray, while the ENDF was in control of the main roads and urban areas. 1606. My personal account", "Ethiopie: 'A Aksoum, j'ai aid transporter plus de 300 morts', "Situation Report EEPA HORN No. This essentially relates to the geostrategic advantage that Ethiopia enjoys. OpIndia Staff. The government fears the Ethiopian crisis will affect stability in the region and neighboring countries. [85][86][87], Following the end of the Ethiopian Civil War in 1991, Ethiopia became a dominant-party state under the rule of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), a coalition of four ethnically based parties dominated by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). In early 2018, after severalyears of frequent anti-government protests from different ethnic groups had seriously damaged the legitimacy of the. The Tigray fighters might have the upper hand, but capturing Addis Ababa will not be easy. As the US threatens to add more sanctions on Ethiopia, the UAE is admittedly sending tons of medical and other aid supplies to Ethiopia. A huge land in Addis and other places? More than 136 cases of rape were reported in hospitals in Mekelle, Ayder, Adigrat and Wukro in eastern Tigray between December 2020 and January 2021, with indications that there are many more such unreported cases. Since the early 2000s, the Ethiopian economy has grown rapidly and has consistently clocked a GDP growth of over. [252], On 10 October, the TPLF claimed that Eritrea was escalating its offensive, sending more forces towards Rama, Tserona, and Zalambessa in the far north, with one aid worker saying it is the heaviest fighting since hostilities resumed. [186], From 17 to 19 July, the TDF began launching attacks in the Afar Region to its east, prompting the Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambela, Harari and Somali regions to join the war. Ethiopia's military yesterday accused the World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of supporting and trying to procure arms and diplomatic backing for Tigray state's . Backed by the UAE and even the African Union, Ethiopia has managed to decimate the US-backed Tigray fighters with relentless aerial bombardment. [178] BBC News reporter Vivienne Nunis characterised the ceasefire as an attempt by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to save face, the government having little other option. The intensity of the war has led to spillover effects on the surrounding countries in the region, especially in Sudan. He unseated many Tigrayan officials, charged some with corruption and introduced a set of political. The Ethiopian army accused Sudan of providing support to Tigray fighters who tried to infiltrate from the Mahalla area on the border between the two countries.
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Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's national security adviser said the government had "accepted this invitation" while the leader of rebel-held . Both campaigns produced disinformation and misinformation, though the majority of content produced was activist in nature. As per Reuters, Ethiopian forces have carried out aerial bombardment in Tigrays regional capital city of Mekelle for at least four days this week. The Tigray . [259][260] Ethiopian forces then took Alamata and Korem in the south. [283] The victory of Ethiopian forces over Dessie and Kombolcha in December 2021 was partly due to the drones supplied by Ethiopia's allies. The conflict errupted in November 2020 when Abiy Ahmed deployed the army in a bid to topple Tigrayan leaders who had been challenging his authority for months. Two years after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, his country is engulfed in a war with the potential to destabilize the whole region for decades to come, says DW's Ludger Schadomsky. [107], The Ethiopian government and its supporters have accused the TPLF of trying to re-establish their rule over the country through violence and force. However, no one except the US wants to support the TPLF fighters in their bid to break up the nation of Ethiopia. [346][347] All parties to the conflict have been accused by USAID of looting aid shipments. An Ethiopian government delegation, including the prime minister's national security advisor Redwan Hussein and several ministers, visited Tigray's capital Mekele on December 26, marking a major. [173][174], On 22 June 2021, an Ethiopian military cargo plane was shot down over Samre, marking a turn of the war in the TDF's favor. Did Ukraine use innocent civilians as human shield against Russia in the name of evacuation? [181], On 6 July 2021, the Tigrayan government mobilised to retake western Tigray from Amhara forces. Tigrayan rebels said Wednesday they have begun handing in their heavy weapons, a key part of a deal signed more than two months ago to end a deadly conflict in northern Ethiopia. [67][152] The Tigray government vowed to continue fighting. [110][267] Still, negotiations continued onward, and on 2 November, Ethiopia and the TPLF announced that they had signed an agreement for a cessation of hostilities (made effective the next day on 3 November, marking the two-year anniversary of the war);[50] however, Eritrea and other warring parties were not involved in the agreement, leaving their status ambiguous. The UAE hasnt revealed what the cargo flights carry, but it is believed that they are being used to transport military equipment to Ethiopia. Two thousand displaced people returned to the Fant Rasu zone in Afar Region after the ENDF and Afar Special Forces regained control and OCHA partner organisations' access to improved. But the state-appointed Ethiopian Human Rights Commission has documented extrajudicial killings by government troops. "[155], The new offensive effectively ended the unilateral ceasefire declared by the federal government in June[203] and further deepened fears of the developing famine in Tigray, with a federal government blockade still preventing most aid from arriving. Meanwhile, the UAE seems to be further assuring Ethiopia about its support. Fighting is raging Ethipia since November 4 when Abiy attacked Tigray state accusing the TPLF of attacking two federal military camps in the region. "[381], The media restrictions resulted in what has been described as an "information blackout. In early 2018, after severalyears of frequent anti-government protests from different ethnic groups had seriously damaged the legitimacy of the EPRDF government, Hailemariam stepped down. [238][237][239], On 27 August, the TDF captured the town of Kobo, following the ENDF's withdrawal. 9 - September 2022", "Ethiopia: UN says 20,000 refugees missing in Tigray", "Nearly half the people in Ethiopia's Tigray in 'severe' need of food aid, World Food Programme says", "Surge of dehumanizing hate speech points to mounting risk of mass atrocities in northern Ethiopia, experts say", "Ethiopia's Tigray war: The short, medium and long story", "Inside a military base in Ethiopia's Tigray: soldiers decry betrayal by former comrades", "Ethiopia's Tigray crisis: How a soldier survived an 11-hour gun battle", "Ethiopia war: UN investigative Human rights commission debuts 6-day visit", "Ethiopia peace deal hailed as a 'new dawn', "Agreement for Lasting Peace through a Permanent Cessation of Hostilities between the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Tigray People's Liberation Front", "Ethiopia sends army into Tigray region, heavy fighting reported", "Exclusive: U.S. thinks Eritrea has joined Ethiopian war, diplomats say", "Concern of Outright War in Ethiopia Grows as PM Presses Military Offensive", "Ethiopia says military operation in Tigray region is over, hunt for Tigray leaders begins", "Ethiopia's Tigray crisis: Army 'takes regional capital of Mekelle', "Ethiopia: 'We are in our homeland, the invaders are attacking us,' says Tigray's Gebremichael", "In Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed's forces have won the battle but not the war", "Ethiopia's government announce ceasefire as Tigrayan troops retake region's capital", "Tigrayan and Oromo forces say they have seized towns on Ethiopian highway", "Ethiopia declares state of emergency as Tigrayan rebels gain ground", "Ethiopia's Tigray forces seek new military alliance", "Ethiopia declares unilateral truce to allow aid into Tigray", "Fighting in northern Ethiopia shatters months-long truce", "Parties in Ethiopia conflict agree to cease hostilities", "Ethiopia: Unlawful Shelling of Tigray Urban Areas", "Fleeing Ethiopians Tell of Ethnic Massacres in Tigray War", "Rapid Investigation into Grave Human Rights Violation Maikadra - Preliminary Findings", "Joint UN, Ethiopia rights team: all sides committed abuses in Tigray", "In an out-of-sight war, a massacre comes to light", "Tigray forces killed 120 civilians in village in Amhara - Ethiopia officials", "Ethiopia: Tigrayan forces murder, rape and pillage in attacks on civilians in Amhara towns", "Ethiopia: Tigray Forces Summarily Execute Civilians", "Situation Report EEPA HORN No. [254] Tigray mobilized its citizens too, calling on every able-bodied person to join the fight. "[222] On 12 December, Reuters reported that forces loyal to the TPLF had recaptured the town of Lalibela less than two weeks after government forces and their allies had recaptured control of the town for themselves. In 2018, following anti-government protests, Abiy Ahmed took over as PM and introduced reforms Powerful politicians from Tigray, Ethiopia's northernmost state, accused Mr Abiy of trying to. [217][218][219][220] On 6 December, government forces claimed to have recaptured the strategic cities of Dessie and Kombolcha. [209], On 2 November 2021, as the counter-offensive came deeper into federal-controlled territory, the Ethiopian government declared a six-month state of emergency, which envisages the possibility to arrest and detain critics of the government without a court warrant, impose curfews, institute censorship, restrict freedom of movement as well as to call any adult person to fight in the war, for fear of serving from three to ten years in prison. 41 other refugees interviewed have also described attacks, looting, and threats by Amhara forces. Aside from Tigrayan rebel forces, he said that much of that area was under the control of the EDF, pursuing their own objectives independent of Ethiopian command. So, what makes Ethiopia so important that the UAE too decided to defy the US and back Addis Ababa? [33] In 1984-1985, the TPLF redirected Western aid intended for starving civilians in order to purchase weapons. [322][323] Such sexual violence is often accompanied with other forms of physical and mental abuse, including burning their victims with hot iron or cigarettes, forcing metal rods or nails into their victim's genitals,[323][315] raping their victim in front of their family members, forcing their victims to rape their family members, calling their victims by derogatory words and ethnic slurs, etc. [154][53] This retreat was partially caused by the fact that a large portion of the TDF's artillery had been destroyed by air strikes. Of these, this includes: an emergency Intergovernmental Authority on Development summit in December 2020;[386] a joint statement by the National Congress of Great Tigray, the Tigray Independence Party, and Salsay Weyane Tigray describing their eight pre-conditions for peace in February 2021;[387] a mediation group called "A3+1," (consisting of three African countries, Kenya, Niger and Tunisia, and one non-African country, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) in JulyAugust 2021;[388] and a MarchAugust 2022 ceasefire wherein Ethiopian and Tigrayan officials attempted to negotiate a peaceful end to the conflict. Issued on: 11/01/2023 - 14:00. The African Union-brokered agreement includes the withdrawal of foreign forces from Tigray, the restoration of basic services and humanitarian aid, and the disarming of Tigray rebels. 2 min. It is pushing a misleading narrative that projects the Tigray fighters as victims and the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed as some sort of an aggressor. Since the start of the conflict, the Ethiopian federal government has strictly controlled access to the Tigray Region, and the UN has said it is frustrated that talks with the Ethiopian government had not yet secured adequate humanitarian access for "food, including ready-to-use therapeutic food for the treatment of child malnutrition, medicines, water, fuel, and other essentials that are running low" said UNICEF. Click here to subscribe to our free newsletter, Copyright: 1978 - 2020 H H Saudi Research and Marketing LTD, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement, https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3171886/ethiopia-accuses-sudan-supporting-tigray-rebels, Ethiopia Accuses Sudan of Supporting Tigray Rebels, Ethiopians who fled the fighting in Tigray cross the Tekeze River into neighboring Sudan (Reuters), Trump to Make First 2024 Campaign Appearance in South Carolina, Egyptian-Jordanian-Palestinian Summit Rejects Israeli Unilateralism, Saved from Death at Sea, Syrian Refugees Face Deportation, Jordan: Army Foils Drug Smuggling Attempt from Syria, Syria Witnesses Dangerous Rise in Cholera Deaths, Warnings of Catastrophe in North, Sudani, McGurk Discuss Bolstering Iraqi-American Cooperation, UAE Looking Forward to Effective Partnership on Climate Issues at COP28, Saudi Crown Prince Launches Investment Fund on Culture, Tourism, Entertainment, Sports, Iraq Says Ties with Arab World Have Entered New Phase, A seagull is seen during a rain delay during the 2023 Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Tuesday, January 17, 2023. [180] On 30 June 2021, the TDF had entered the town of Shire, some 140 kilometres (87mi) northwest of Mekelle, after it had been abandoned by Eritrean troops. Abiy also reportedly imports drones from Iran and Turkey to use against Tigray's population, hospitals, and aid convoys. A number of reports have been made alleging that China, Iran, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates were all providing military support for the Ethiopian government via the sale of weaponized drones. Currently, Ethiopia seems to be in a comfortable position. [108] In turn, the TPLF has accused the federal government of accumulating too much power for itself, and that it was engaging in ethnic discrimination of Tigrayans. The Ethiopian army announced that it had thwarted an attempt by elements allied with Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) to infiltrate Sudan's territory to the GERD site to disrupt its construction. for investment needs. [122] As tension continued to grow, a brigadier general appointed by Abiy was prevented by the Tigray government from taking up his military post. He would go on to rule the countryuntil his death in 2012, and was succeeded by Hailemariam Desalegn. Resentment has festered futher under current Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who is himself an Oromo. Bidens humanitarian intervention in Ethiopia is thus a non-starter as Ethiopia pushes back against TPLF insurgents and also sustains its ambitious growth story. In the same announcement, the Ethiopian government stated that all Eritrean forces had withdrawn from the region, though this was not confirmed by the Eritrean government. Ethiopia itself is located close to war-torn Yemen. Beginning to December 2020. The International Crisis Group claimed that the TDF now controlled most of the Tigray region. But the East African nation is clearly maneuvering its relations between big powers like China and Russia. The report noted that before the war began, Somali forces under the leadership of the Eritrean Army had been stationed in trenches along the border. [360], UNICEF stated that by the end of September 2022, around 574,000 more people in Afar, Amhara and Tigray were left displaced after fighting resumed in August 2022; they also reported that over 870,000 had become refugees. In fact, many of the Caracal International products are in service with a special Ethiopian force called the Republican Guard (RG), which is tasked with defending Ethiopian officials and key buildings. [141][142][c][143] In the late hours of 13 November 2020, Tigray forces fired a rocket towards the airports of Bahir Dar and Gondar in the Amhara Region. , Ethiopia has managed to decimate the US-backed Tigray fighters with relentless aerial bombardment. . [117][118] Ethiopia considered the Tigray election to be illegal, and responded by slashing federal funding to the region, a decision the TPLF described as "tantamount to declaration of war. Amhara comprises 28% of the total population. [198][199], On 8 October 2021, the TPLF said that an intensive air campaign by the Ethiopian Air Force began against TDF positions in the North Wollo and North Gondar zones of the Amhara Region, mostly around the towns of Wegeltena, Wurgessa and Haro. [206] On 31 October, the TDF claimed to have captured Kombolcha, a town 21km (13mi) east of Dessie, and the Ethiopian government accused the TDF of massacring over 100 youths in the town. A month later, the federal government began withholding funds from the regional administration. [184] Following the TDF's rapid advances, Abiy threatened to resume war with Tigray and crush the rebels, raising fears of genocide. Under Obama, the US promoted the Arab Spring in several Arab nations. [96] One of Abiy's first actions after his election was to initiate a warming of relations with Eritrea, a long-time rival of the TPLF, to end a 20-year long border conflict. WHO boss Dr Tedros denies supporting Tigray leaders. "[382] Many journalists, both local and international, have noted the difficulty they face with trying to report on the war, as they risk the possibility of getting either killed or imprisoned by government forces. [223] Nevertheless, by the end of the month, the federal government had successfully repelled the incursion towards Addis Ababa, and Tigrayan forces were pushed back to Tigray. "[313][314] On 1 November 2021, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stated that "we should closely follow those who work for the enemy and live amongst us," as reports of a new roundup of ethnic Tigrayans came out of Addis Ababa. Ethiopia is looking at Iran and the UAE for acquiring new weapons and it is the UAE that seems to be winning the race. With a left-wing nationalist ideology, they vowed to fight for the rights of Tigrayans, a relatively small ethnic group that account for just 5% of the population and had long been marginalized by the central government. On Friday, even a UN aid plane couldnt. . The military claimed without providing any evidence that the WHO chief was trying to procure arms for Tigray state's main political party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which is fighting the federal government. [379] In November 2021 (during the 20212022 state of emergency), the Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA) threatened to cancel the media licences of BBC News, Reuters, CNN and Associated Press, accusing the news organisations of having "consistently disseminated news that sowed seeds of animosity among people and compromised the sovereignty of the country." [229] On 26 January, the Ethiopian council of ministers also proposed to end the state of emergency. [362] One refugee interviewed by Reuters said that if they didn't leave when they did, they would have been killed by Amhara forces. By supporting the war on Tigray, it might be hoping to get the support of Abiy and Isaias for its internal centralization project. Photo: Gerald Matzka/dpa, 17 January 2023, Spain, Palma: A man with an umbrella walks past Christmas decorations damaged by strong winds in Palma. The conflict in Tigray has cast a pall over Abiy's presidency, in the wake of his 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for domestic reform and forging peace with neighboring Eritrea. Ethiopia's government has declared a national state of emergency and ordered residents of Addis Ababa to prepare to defend their neighborhoods. [173] The statement also confirmed reports of two massacres in Tigray, stating that 229 civilians were killed in the town of Mai Kadra at the beginning of November 2020, and accusing Eritrean forces of killing 110 civilians in Axum later that same month. [121], In late October 2020, the Ethiopian Reconciliation Commission stated that it was trying to mediate between the federal government and the TPLF, as well as the other regional governments, but that the pre-conditions set by all sides were blocking progress. The war was primarily fought in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia between the Ethiopian federal government and Eritrea on one side, and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) on the other.. After years of increased tensions and hostilities between the TPLF and the governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea . Tigray's regional special forces, which a senior Ethiopian diplomat estimates have grown to at least 20,000 commandosled by senior Tigrayan officers forced into retirement by Abiy, plus a . [164], On 9 January 2021, Ethiopian TV reported that 300 refugees in Hitsats camp were executed by the TPLF. "Tigray has handed over its heavy weapons as part of its commitment to implementing the #Pretoria agreement" that was signed between Ethiopia's government and Tigrayan rebels, Tigray People's. Tigrayan rebels have killed more than 150 civilians in the Amhara region on suspicion of being informants or offering aid to federal forces, the government-affiliated Ethiopian Human Rights . [312], Ethnic Tigrayan members of Ethiopian components of United Nations peacekeeping missions were disarmed and some forcibly flown back to Ethiopia, at the risk of torture or execution, according to United Nations officials. In the mid-1970s, a small group of militiamen founded the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). Fighting broke out in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region in November 2020 after the central government accused Tigrayan fighters of attacking a federal army base and sending forces to the region . [356][366] As of 2 February 2021, 20,000 of the Eritrean refugees in Tigray, mostly from the Hitsats and Shimelba camps, remained unaccounted for, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. In early November 2020, TPLF forces were accused of having attacked and looted federal military bases in the region. Amhara and Eritrean forces also controlled parts of Tigray in the west and north, respectively. The Tigray region has been at the epicenter of an ethnic civil war for nearly a year now. [146], From 17 to 19 November, Ethiopian forces captured the Raya district and the towns of Shire, Alamata, Adwa, and Axum,[147][148] and began moving towards Adigrat. 11 Jan 2023 0. He also claimed clashes were taking place near Weldiya and that fighting had resumed in Afar, within the Awra and Chifra districts near the Amhara border. [170], Fighting intensified in early April;[154] by this point, the TDF was in control of the rural areas of central and southern Tigray along with parts of eastern and south-eastern Tigray, while the ENDF was in control of the main roads and urban areas. 1606. My personal account", "Ethiopie: 'A Aksoum, j'ai aid transporter plus de 300 morts', "Situation Report EEPA HORN No. This essentially relates to the geostrategic advantage that Ethiopia enjoys. OpIndia Staff. The government fears the Ethiopian crisis will affect stability in the region and neighboring countries. [85][86][87], Following the end of the Ethiopian Civil War in 1991, Ethiopia became a dominant-party state under the rule of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), a coalition of four ethnically based parties dominated by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). In early 2018, after severalyears of frequent anti-government protests from different ethnic groups had seriously damaged the legitimacy of the. The Tigray fighters might have the upper hand, but capturing Addis Ababa will not be easy. As the US threatens to add more sanctions on Ethiopia, the UAE is admittedly sending tons of medical and other aid supplies to Ethiopia. A huge land in Addis and other places? More than 136 cases of rape were reported in hospitals in Mekelle, Ayder, Adigrat and Wukro in eastern Tigray between December 2020 and January 2021, with indications that there are many more such unreported cases. Since the early 2000s, the Ethiopian economy has grown rapidly and has consistently clocked a GDP growth of over. [252], On 10 October, the TPLF claimed that Eritrea was escalating its offensive, sending more forces towards Rama, Tserona, and Zalambessa in the far north, with one aid worker saying it is the heaviest fighting since hostilities resumed. [186], From 17 to 19 July, the TDF began launching attacks in the Afar Region to its east, prompting the Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambela, Harari and Somali regions to join the war. Ethiopia's military yesterday accused the World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of supporting and trying to procure arms and diplomatic backing for Tigray state's . Backed by the UAE and even the African Union, Ethiopia has managed to decimate the US-backed Tigray fighters with relentless aerial bombardment. [178] BBC News reporter Vivienne Nunis characterised the ceasefire as an attempt by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to save face, the government having little other option. The intensity of the war has led to spillover effects on the surrounding countries in the region, especially in Sudan. He unseated many Tigrayan officials, charged some with corruption and introduced a set of political. The Ethiopian army accused Sudan of providing support to Tigray fighters who tried to infiltrate from the Mahalla area on the border between the two countries.
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