Ethiopia Tigray conflict: The Ethiopian government has announced a ceasefire in Tigray. In this way, 3.5 lakh people facing starvation can soon reach food items.
Ethiopian government enforces ceasefire in Tigre (AFP)
The government of Ethiopia has announced a ceasefire in the Tigre region. The country’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed had sent troops eight months ago to overthrow its leadership in Tigre. This announcement has come after eyewitnesses informed about the presence of anti-government soldiers on the streets of Mekelle, the capital of Tigre. There have been allegations on all sides of mass killings and human rights violations in the region.
The United Nations says five million people in Tigray are in urgent need of food aid, of which 3.5 million are facing famine. In such a situation, now food security can reach these people. On Monday, reports began to emerge that Tigre fighters had formed an interim administration in Mekele. Tigre People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) spokesman Getacheu Reda said they now have control over the city. People in Mekele said they were happy with the return of Ethiopian troops. A source said that all the soldiers have returned.
What did the Ethiopian government say about the ceasefire?
However, so far there has been no official comment from the Ethiopian government on this. But in a statement on Monday, some information regarding the ceasefire was clarified. It said that this will be applicable till the farming season, so that food can reach the needy people and in the meantime a political solution to the dispute can be found. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke to PM Abiy Ahmed on Monday and said that it is important that civilians are protected, humanitarian aid reaches the people and political solutions should be found.
Why is there fighting in Tigre?
Last November, Ethiopia’s government launched an aggressive campaign to oust the region’s then ruling party, the Tigre People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). The party had a dispute with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed over political changes in the country’s ethnically based federal system. However, the TPLF captured military bases in Tigre, which provoked the Ethiopian government to attack.
Abiy Ahmed announced in late November that the dispute was over, but the fighting continued. Thousands of people died during this. Tens of thousands of people were displaced and moved to Sudan. There have been allegations of several human rights violations on both sides. Since then, TPLF has joined hands with other rebels in Tigre and formed the Tigre Defense Force. This organization is fighting with the Ethiopian army.
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