Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed issued a call Tuesday for all eligible civilians to join the armed forces as fighting rages in multiple regions of Africa’s second-most populous nation. Now is the right time for all capable Ethiopians who are of age to join the Defense Forces, Special Forces and militias and show your patriotism,” Abiy’s office said in a statement released less than two months after he declared a unilateral ceasefire in the war against Tigrayan rebels.
Northern Ethiopia has been wracked by violence since November after Abiy, the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize winner, sent troops into Tigray to topple its regional ruling party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), vowing a swift victory.
But nine months later, the TPLF has made advances into the neighbouring Afar and Amhara regions. Aid workers meanwhile are struggling to reach cut-off populations, with 400,000 people facing famine-like conditions in Tigray, according to the UN.
On Tuesday, the government’s patience appeared to have run out, with Abiy ordering security forces “to halt the destruction of the treasonous and terrorist TPLF organisation and the machinations of foreign hands once and for all”. The TPLF’s goal and purpose is to disintegrate Ethiopia,” the statement added.
As the fighting drags on, the humanitarian toll has spiked, with thousands of people killed and at least two million forced to flee their homes. Both sides are trading blame for civilian casualties.
A medical official in Afar told AFP Tuesday that 12 people were killed and dozens wounded in an attack on displaced civilians. The incident occurred on August 5 in Galicoma town, said Dr Abubeker Mahammud, medical director of the Dubti Referral Hospital, where victims were being treated. Twelve dead bodies arrived at the hospital,” Abubeker said.
He said the number of injured was almost 50, and that almost 75 percent had suffered bullet wounds.
Abiy, who has claimed his November offensive came in response to TPLF attacks on federal army camps, has accused the rebels of seeking to destroy Ethiopia.
The TPLF has repeatedly said it does not have designs on holding territory in Amhara and Afar and instead wants to facilitate aid access and prevent pro-government forces from regrouping.
In other news – Zola Hashatsi join Mzansi in slamming govt for burning looted goods
Actor Zola Hashatsi and musician Busiswa have voiced their concerns about police allegedly burning recovered groceries after the recent mass looting.
Police have been on a mission to recover stolen goods after the looting in KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Gauteng last month. Learn more
Source: news18
