Early on November 4th, while the whole world was marveling at the American elections, Abiy ordered his troops into action against the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which runs Tigray, a northern region of Ethiopia. -By Gerald Gekara.
Ethiopia’s House of Federation has triggered anger after a controversial decision to form an interim government for its northern Tigray region.
The move has aroused political conflict with the ruling Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) party which has brought the country to the brink of civil war.
The announcement follows a decision by the federal government to send its military into the region to take on the armed forces of TPLF.
Abiy has constantly accused the TPLF which the Ethiopian government has accused of attacking its military camps and stealing arms, among other alleged criminal activities.
“The prime minister is thus tasked to deploy federal police and national army in Tigray,” said the House, in its statement released on Saturday (Nov. 6).
On Friday, prime minister Abiy Ahmed said the national army achieved a 100% victory against TPLF and an airstrike carried out by the Air Force destroyed heavy weaponries, radar equipment, missiles, and rockets with a range of 300 kilometers.
But senior leaders of TPLF denied there was no such damage, while acknowledging there had been an airstrike.
Tensions between the Ethiopian federal government and Tigray leaders started to ratchet up in September after the TPLF claimed an overwhelming victory in a regional election which was not recognized by Addis Ababa.
The ruling Tigray party and the Ethiopian federal government have been at loggerheads since soon after prime minister Abiy, an Oromo, came to power in April 2018.
The federal government has repeatedly alleged the TPLF is attempting to weaken the national unity of the country.
While expressing his views on the situation at the region, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for immediate measures to descalate tensions.
“The Secretary-General expresses his alarm over the reported armed clashes in the Tigray region of Ethiopia and calls for immediate measures to de-escalate tensions and ensure a peaceful resolution to the dispute. He underlines the importance of the stability of Ethiopia for the Horn of Africa region.”
Antonnio says the UN is ready to support the Government of Ethiopia in its reform efforts aimed at building a peaceful and secure future for all its peoples.
