In Ethiopia, a new offensive by the Tigray rebels

Published on : 07/13/2021 – 09:28

Two weeks after the first offensive that prompted the government to declare a ceasefire in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, rebel forces launched a new charge, a spokesperson told AFP on Tuesday (July 12th). rebels.

“Yesterday [lundi], we launched an offensive in the Raya region, in southern Tigray, and we succeeded in routing the divisions of the Federal Defense Forces and the Amhara forces, “Getachew Reda told AFP by telephone. who also said rebel fighters were still “on the trail” of pro-government forces on Tuesday.

“We have succeeded in securing the majority of southern Tigray,” he added, specifying in particular controlling Alamata, the main town in this area and where he claimed to be.

A spokesperson for the federal army was not immediately reachable, and it was impossible to verify Reda Getachew’s claims, as communication networks were practically cut off in the region.

Fighting in the western part of the region

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched on November 4 a military operation in this northern region of the country to disarm and capture the dissident local authorities from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). At the end of November, after the capture of the regional capital Mekele, the government proclaimed victory. But the fighting continued for eight months.

At the end of June, the army withdrew in the face of a lightning advance by pro-TPLF troops, who recaptured Mekele on the 28th, as well as a majority of Tigray the following days. In the process, Addis Ababa declared a ceasefire and withdrew the army.

Monday’s offensive concerns the southern and western areas of Tigray, which were still controlled by Amhara forces, who came to support the federal army in this conflict marked by atrocities and the growing specter of famine.

>> To review, our Focus: Ethiopia: the suffering of civilians in Tigray

“We promised to free every square inch of Tigray,” added Getachew Reda.

He also said that fighting was underway in the west of the region, without specifying where in this area located on the borders of Ethiopia, Eritrea and Sudan.

With AFP