Claims of victory, atrocities
ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopia’s military has defeated local forces in the west of Tigray state, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said yesterday, accusing his foes of atrocities during a week of fighting that threatens to destabilise the Horn of Africa.
Rights group Amnesty International said scores and possibly hundreds of civilians were stabbed and hacked to death in the region on November 9, citing witnesses. It said it had not been able to independently confirm who was responsible, but said the witnesses had blamed fighters loyal to Tigray’s local leaders.
Air strikes and ground combat between government forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) have killed hundreds, sent refugees flooding into Sudan, stirred Ethiopia’s ethnic divisions and raised questions over the credentials of Abiy, Africa’s youngest leader who won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2019.
‘‘The western region of Tigray has been liberated,’’ Abiy said in a tweet. The 44yearold leader comes from the largest ethnic group the Oromo and once fought with the Tigrayans against neighbouring Eritrea.
With communications down and media barred, independent verification of the status of the conflict was impossible. Reuters was not able to confirm either side’s version of events or
Amnesty’s reports of atrocities.
There are fears the conflict may draw in Eritrea, whose Government signed a peace pact with Abiy two years ago but remains hostile to the Tigrayan leadership, and weaken Ethiopia’s role in an African Union (AU) force opposing Islamist militants in Somalia.
Major conflict could also hinder foreign investment in Ethiopia’s economy, which had clocked nearly doubledigit annual growth for years before the coronavirus hit and is liberalising, with multinationals particularly eyeing the telecoms sector.
The TPLF, which rules the mountainous northern state of more than 5 million people, announced a state of emergency against what it termed an ‘‘invasion’’.
Abiy accuses the TPLF of starting the conflict by attacking a federal military base and defying his authority. The Tigrayans say they have been persecuted during his twoyear rule.
Abiy said some of his soldiers had been found dead in the town of Sheraro, shot with their legs and arms tied behind their back.
He did not say how many bodies were found or provide proof. Reuters could not verify his allegation and there was no immediate response from the TPLF.
More than 11,000 Ethiopian refugees have crossed into Sudan since fighting started and aid agencies say the situation in Tigray is becoming dire.
Abiy has so far resisted calls by the United Nations, the African Union and others for a ceasefire and talks. — Reuters