Tiger rebels have blamed federal government forces for killing dozens of civilians in a refugee camp in the north. Ethiopia, despite the indications that the government camp is opening up, seeking to begin a process of “national reconciliation”.
Several opposition figures were released on Saturday following a surprise amnesty announced earlier in the day by key government officials, including key figures in Tigray’s party.
The unexpected announcement that amnesty granted to these persons followed the call for “national reconciliation” Prime Minister Abi Ahmed, whose country has been torn apart for 14 months by a bloody armed conflict between its federal troops and its paramilitary forces, Tigray (TPLF).
But last Saturday, TPLF spokesman Getatsu Renta tweeted that a UAV had attacked a displaced camp. “Cost the lives of 56 innocent civilians”, adding that the death toll is still temporary, in the small town of Dendebit, in the northwestern state of Tigray.
This category could not be verified by independent sources. Government officials did not respond when asked by Agence France-Presse for comment. Access to Tigray is limited. Telecommunications in the area remain cut off.
However, the head of the main hospital in Meckele, the capital of Tigray, told AFP that the hospital in the city of Cair, where the victims were treated, had said that 55 people had died and 126 had been injured.
Mr. Getatsu did not specify when the bombing took place.
At least three other people were killed in an airstrike on a camp internally displaced people in the area, the UN said earlier this week.
TPLF fighters withdrew to their stronghold in Tigray state in late December after a counterattack by federal forces regained control of a number of strategically important cities.
Fighting ceased after the TPLF withdrew, but rebels accuse the government of continuing deadly UAV bombings in Tigray.
“Unity”
The TPLF, the party that has ruled Ethiopia for nearly 30 years, took up arms when Prime Minister Abi Ahmed sent the federal army to Tigray in November 2020 to oust and oust the state government – which belonged to the faction. because it defied his authority, accusing it of sending its fighters to attack army bases.
Mr Abby was quick to declare a “federal victory” for the Federal Reserve in Tigray in late 2020, but the TPLF counterattack resulted in them recapturing virtually the entire state in late June and advancing on neighboring Amhara and Afar.
In November, insurgents claimed they had reached 200 kilometers from Addis Ababa, forcing many countries to urge their citizens to leave immediately.
The conflict is estimated to have cost the lives of tens of thousands of people. According to the UN, Tigray is under “de facto blockade” of humanitarian aid and has been faced with appalling food and medicine shortages.
Mr. Abby, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, called for “unity” on Friday. Yet yesterday Saturday, he managed again fiercely against the “external and internal enemy”, calling TPLF members “reptiles”
According to his government, the purpose of the amnesty is to “pave the way” for a “lasting solution to Ethiopia’s problems”. “The key to national unity is dialogue,” she said in a statement, listing the names of opposition leaders and top TPLF officials who have been granted amnesty.
“Important gesture”
It is unclear whether the government has proposed to the TPLF that negotiations begin. This party is now officially characterized as a “terrorist” organization by Addis Ababa.
The amnesty was welcomed by the United Nations and the African Union, which are leading the international effort to end the conflict.
The head of European diplomacy, Giuseppe Borrell, condemned the bombing of the IDP camp, adding that “all parties must seize the opportunity to end the war quickly and start a dialogue.”
Tentras Antanom Gebreses, head of the World Health Organization (WHO), originally from Tigray, said on Twitter that “after more than a year of siege, seven million people in Tigray (…) continue to be attacked by UAVs.” ). “Now, more than ever, peace and access to humanitarian aid must be replaced by violence and death as soon as possible.”
It is not yet clear how many detainees were released. The opposition party Balderas announced the release of the founder of Eskinder Nega, a form of opposition.
The list of people granted amnesty also included the name of former media mogul Jawar Mohammed, a member of the Oromo faction. A former ally of Mr Abby – who also belongs to the Oromo ethnic group, the most populous in the country – Mr Jawar has become one of his harshest critics.
Like Mr. Eskinder, Mr. Jawar was arrested in July 2020, along with other opposition figures, following the orgy of violence that sparked the assassination of Addis Ababa last month by popular singer Hatsalo Handesa.
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