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- Tigray crisis
Image rightsAFPImage descriptionThe conflict has so far killed hundreds and displaced thousands of people *: not ([hidden]): not (style) ~ *: not ([hidden]): not (style) {margin-top: 1rem;}]]>
The Ethiopian army has told the residents of the northern region of Tigray to “save themselves” if government troops penetrate into the capital Mekelle.
The military plans to encircle the city – which is home to 500,000 people – with tanks and fire artillery, military spokesman Col Dejene Tsegaye told state television.
“Get rid of the junta … there will be no mercy,” he said.
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front, which controls the mountainous region, has vowed to keep fighting.
His leader, Debretsion Gebremichael, told the Reuters news agency that his armed forces had succeeded in stopping airborne troops.
“They couldn’t move more than a week on the southern front. They [are] Send wave after wave but to no avail, “he added.
The government said its troops took over some key cities last week.
The conflict has reportedly killed hundreds and displaced thousands in recent weeks. The UN has warned that this could spark a humanitarian crisis.
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On Friday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity as chairman of the African Union, announced the appointment of three former presidents to hold talks to end the conflict.
However, Ethiopia has declined the offer because it sees the operation as an internal “law enforcement mission”.
“We don’t negotiate with criminals … we take them to court, not to the negotiating table,” Mamo Mihretu, a senior advisor to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, told the BBC.
What is the fighting about?
The conflict is rooted in longstanding tensions between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the powerful regional party and the Ethiopian central government.
When Mr Abiy postponed a national election due to coronavirus in June, tensions escalated. The TPLF regards the central government as illegitimate and argues that Mr. Abiy no longer has a mandate.
On November 4, the Ethiopian Prime Minister announced an operation against the TPLF, accusing its armed forces of attacking the army’s northern command center in Mekelle.
TPLF has rejected the claims.
The number of fighters, mostly from a paramilitary unit and a well-trained local militia, is estimated at 250,000.
What else did Abiy’s adjutant say?
“Our African brothers and sisters would play a more important role in putting pressure on the TPLF to surrender, and no one has to go to Tigray or Mekelle to make this point clear to them,” Mamo said.
He said former leaders from Mozambique, Liberia and South Africa who will be arriving in the country in the coming days will not be able to visit Tigray because of the ongoing military operation.
Communication and transportation services have been severely hampered since the fighting began.
Mr Mamo added that the government was doing “its best” to enable UN agencies to provide aid to the people of Tigray.
Media signatureThree consequences of the ongoing crisis in Tigray.
How bad is the situation?
Aid organizations do not have access to the conflict zone, but fear that thousands of civilians have been killed since the fighting broke out in early November.
At least 33,000 refugees have already entered Sudan. The UN Refugee Agency has announced that it is preparing for up to 200,000 people to arrive in the next six months if the fighting continues.
On Friday, the TPLF was charged with firing rockets at the city of Bahir Dar in the neighboring Amhara region. The Amhara government said there was no sacrifice and no harm.
However, the reported incident in Amhara, which has a longstanding border dispute with Tigray, has raised concerns that the conflict could escalate into a major war after regional forces were deployed in support of federal troops.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has raised concerns about the influx of refugees into Sudan, which could destabilize a nation that is already assisting about a million people displaced from other African countries.
Many of the refugees arriving in Sudan are said to be children. Aid agencies say an immediate ceasefire would allow them to aid thousands of civilians still trapped in Ethiopia.
Media signature“We came with the clothes on our backs”
Aid agencies are demanding US $ 50 million (£ 38 million) for food and housing for the newcomers.
Five things about Tigray:
1. The kingdom of Aksum was centered in the region. It has been described as one of the greatest civilizations of the ancient world and was once the most powerful state between the Roman and Persian Empires.
Image rightsGetty ImagesImage descriptionAksum is said to have been the home of the biblical Queen of Sheba
2. The ruins of the city of Aksum are a UN World Heritage Site. Dating from the 1st to 13th centuries AD, the site is home to obelisks, castles, royal tombs, and a church that some believe to be home to the Ark of the Covenant.
3. Most of the people in Tigray are Ethiopian Orthodox Christians. The region’s Christian roots go back 1,600 years.
Media signatureIs this the home of the Ark of the Covenant?
4. The main language of the region is Tigrinya, a Semitic dialect with at least seven million speakers worldwide.
5. Sesame is an important monetary crop that is exported to the United States, China and other countries.
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