Ethiopia’s head of government has been cracking down on the rebels in Tigray for months. Hundreds of thousands need humanitarian aid. Now there is a surprising twist.
After an eight-month military offensive in the northern region of Tigray, the government of Ethiopia surprisingly declared a unilateral ceasefire. The ceasefire was not tied to any conditions and should apply immediately, it said in a message from Monday evening.
According to the rebels, the People’s Liberation Front of Tigray (TPLF), the regional capital Mekelle should be under their control again. It was said that a “breathtaking victory” was achieved. The rebels left it open whether they would respect the ceasefire. According to the BBC, people celebrated the troop withdrawal on Tuesday night in the streets of Mekelle.
The Prime Minister and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Abiy Ahmed, who has been in office since 2018, began a military offensive against the TPLF in November, which had been in power in Tigray until then. The background to this was years of tensions between the TPLF and the central government. Other actors are now involved, including Eritrean troops. Hundreds of thousands of people in Tigray are dependent on humanitarian aid, but aid organizations have long had no full access to those in need due to the security situation and bureaucratic hurdles.
Farmers in Ethiopia should be able to till their fields
According to the Ethiopian government, the ceasefire should enable farmers in Tigray to cultivate their fields. In addition, humanitarian organizations should be able to work unhindered in the region. The ceasefire should initially apply until the end of the harvest season in September. The interim government in Mekelle had previously spoken out in favor of a ceasefire.
The announcement came as a surprise to many observers. For days there have been unconfirmed reports of fierce fighting between central government security forces and the TPLF in Tigray. The enemy suffered a humiliating loss, the TPLF announced on Tuesday night.
Troops loyal to the government apparently fled Tigray
According to unconfirmed reports, representatives of the Ethiopian central government are said to have left the city in a hurry. The withdrawal of government troops from Tigray began on Saturday and was completed on Monday, said an eyewitness to the German press agency. Residents in Mekelle told the BBC that the rebels had been in the city since Monday evening and were also controlling the airport. An independent review of the reports was initially not possible.
With the withdrawal of the Ethiopian military and officials from Mekelle, the armed resistance in Tigray won a “great victory,” said the Ethiopia analyst with the International Crisis Group, William Davison. The rebels succeeded in the great counter-offensive by securing the backing of the population, as well as conquering weapons and stocks from the enemy, said Davison.
Unicef is making allegations against Ethiopian security forces
The UN Children’s Fund (Unicef) accused Ethiopian security forces of violating international law. According to the Unicef Executive Director Henrietta Fore, Ethiopian security forces broke into the Unicef premises in Mekelle on Monday and dismantled the satellite equipment. Fore strongly condemned the action. Humanitarian organizations have been complaining about the security situation of their employees for months. Most recently, three employees of the organization Doctors Without Borders in the region perished under unexplained circumstances.
UN Secretary General António Guterres phoned Prime Minister Ahmed on Monday evening, according to the United Nations. Guterres then announced that he hoped for an end to the fighting. The situation in Tigray is “extremely worrying”.
Hundreds of thousands in Tigray threatened with famine
The more than five million inhabitants of the northern Ethiopian region have been largely cut off from the outside world since November. There have been repeated reports of excesses of violence on both sides and numerous civilian victims. According to aid organizations, 350,000 people in Tigray suffer from famine as a result of the fighting. However, the nocturnal declaration by the former TPLF government in Tigray gives little hope that the conflict will soon come to a peaceful end.
The USA, Ireland and Great Britain, meanwhile, requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the Tigray conflict. The meeting could take place on Friday, it was said from diplomatic circles, but an official date has not yet been set. Since the beginning of the conflict eight months ago, there has not been a public meeting of the most powerful UN body because several members – including Russia, China and several African states – see it as an internal matter to Ethiopia.
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
