Forces battling Ethiopia’s federal government have vowed to continue the fight in the north of the country, despite a 72-hour ultimatum to surrender, raising fears of further bloodshed in a conflict that threatens to destabilize the Horn of Africa.
Nairobi, Kenya Forces battling Ethiopia’s federal government have vowed to continue the fight in the north of the country, despite a 72-hour ultimatum to surrender from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, raising fears of further bloodshed in a conflict that threatens to destabilize the Horn of Africa.
“We are not concerned about timing, we are concerned about our final complete success,” said the president of the Tigray region, Debretsion Gebremichael, on Tigray TV Monday night.
On Sunday, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister warned members of the the region’s ruling party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), to surrender “within the next 72 hours, recognizing that you are at a point of no return. “
But TPLF spokesperson Getachew Reda claimed their forces were putting up a strong fight on the frontlines and suggested that if the regional capital of Mekelle were captured by federal forces, the TPLF would simply change strategies to recapture fallen cities.
On Tuesday, Getachew, told Tigray TV that a prestigious Ethiopian army unit — which he termed the 21st mechanized division — had been “completely destroyed” in an assault at Raya-Wahirat led by a former commander of that unit who defected to the TPLF side, Reuters reported.
Government forces say they are currently closing in on Mekelle ahead of a promised “final phase” of the military operation there following a stark warning to Tigrayan forces to surrender.
The federal military said the third and final phase of the military operation includes plans to surround the regional capital Mekelle with tanks, warning civilians to beware of artillery.
“I appreciate the readiness of the federal government of Ethiopia to work with the AU and receive the envoys to find a peaceful resolution to this conflict,” Ramaphosa said in a tweet following the meeting.
