Ethiopia to begin ‘final phase’ of offensive in Tigray region, says PM

Addis Ababa/Nairobi, November 26

The Ethiopian navy will start the “final phase” of an offensive within the rebellious northern Tigray area, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed mentioned on Thursday, hours after an ultimatum for Tigray forces to give up expired.

The authorities gave the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) 72 hours on Sunday to put down their arms or face an assault on Mekelle, the regional capital metropolis of 5,00,000 individuals.

Reuters was not instantly capable of attain the TPLF forces for remark. Claims by all sides have been unimaginable to confirm as a result of cellphone and web connections to the area are down and entry to the world is tightly managed.

“The 72-hour period granted to the criminal TPLF clique to surrender peacefully is now over and our law enforcement campaign has reached its final stage,” Abiy tweeted, including that civilians can be spared and that 1000’s of fighters had already surrendered.

“The last peaceful gate which remained open for the TPLF clique to walk through has now been firmly closed,” Abiy mentioned.

Abiy known as on the individuals of Mekelle to “disarm, stay at home and stay away from military targets”.

“Our National Defence Forces have carefully devised a strategy to bring the TPLF criminal clique to justice without harming innocent civilians, heritage sites, places of worship, development institutions and property,” he added.

African envoys went to Ethiopia to plead for peace on Wednesday, hours earlier than the ultimatum was to run out. Rights teams worry any assault may deliver large civilian casualties.

Thousands of persons are already believed to have died and there was widespread destruction from aerial bombardment and floor combating for the reason that conflict started on November 4. Around 42,000 refugees have fled over the border to Sudan. TPLF rockets have hit neighbouring Eritrea.

On Tuesday, Human Rights Watch mentioned each side should keep away from placing civilians at risk. The authorities’s warning didn’t absolve it “of its duty to take constant care to protect civilians when carrying out military operations in urban areas”.

“We are also concerned by reports that the TPLF has deployed its forces in heavily populated areas. They need to ensure the safety of civilians under their control,” it mentioned. Reuters