The Ethiopian government warned on Wednesday that if fighters loyal to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front break the ceasefire, it will be called off.
The Ethiopian National Defence Forces pulled out of Makelle, the restive northern region’s capital, to avoid civilian casualties and allow humanitarian access, according to Redwan Hussein, the Tigray Emergency Taskforce’s spokesman.
However, he and the military’s spokesman, Lt-Gen Bacha Debele, said they may reverse their decision and return to pursuing TPLF fighters.
“The ceasefire considered the law enforcement operation, survival of the nation, concerns of the people of Tigray and the international community,” Redwan told the media, referring to the November 4, 2020 decision to launch attacks on the TPLF, once a ruling party in Ethiopia but now seen as a terrorist group.
According to Ethiopia, the initial targets of the operation such as destroying enemy ammunition, freeing captured troops and weakening the TPLF had been achieved. And although Reda did not indicate how many captured soldiers had been freed, he said the ceasefire was also meant to reduce the financial costs of the war, which he argued had reached Birr 100 billion ($2.3 billion). But he did warn the troops could return if TPLF attacked their forces or supporting Amhara region, or Eritreaa
“The army is ready to respond accordingly if unduly provoked by attacks that compromise the spirit of the ceasefire,” he said.
On Monday, Ethiopia issued a unilateral decision for a ceasefire, saying it was doing so to allow humanitarian access, allow farmers to till their land and avoid further civilian casualties.
In the wake of the truce, however, the TPLF have claimed victory, saying Ethiopian forces and Eritrean troops have been supporting Ethiopia against TPLF were fleeing from defeat. Gatachew Reda, spokesman for the TPLF said the Ethiopian forces had left key bases in Tigray after suffering losses. Abiy has essentially lost the war!”
On Tuesday, they took over Shire, a strategic town near the border with Eritrea, after Eritrean forces left the site and the entire Tigray region
TPLF forces also took control of the historic and major tourist destination city of Axum.
“A unilateral ceasefire in the Tigray region could be a positive step,” said Ned Price, spokesman for the State Department.
