Ethiopia Claims End of Military Operation in Tigray

After weeks of clashes, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced, on Monday, the end of military operations in the disputed Tigray region.

According to a statement issued by Abiy’s Office, "the mission is now focused on delivering humanitarian aid to the population."

The Ethiopian statement added that the authorities bring the perpetrators to justice and restore law and order, pointing out that the Ethiopian government will work to secure humanitarian aid to the region's citizens and resettle the displaced people. 

It is noteworthy that the Ethiopian Prime Minister declared victory at the end of last week in the long-running conflict, but the fighting between federal and regional forces continued.

Thousands killed and about 46,000 Ethiopian refugees

On the other hand, a rebel faction in the Tigray region announced on Sunday that explosions, looting and skirmishes continued in parts of the region after government forces confirmed that they were days away from arresting the leaders of the rebellion.

It is estimated that the fighting, which has been going on for about a month, between the federal forces led by Abiy and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Tigray, has so far caused thousands of deaths and about 46,000 refugees to neighboring Sudan.

Neither side provided evidence to support its assertions regarding the month-long war in the mountainous region bordering Eritrea, with the interruption of telephone communications amid severe restrictions on entering the region.

It is noteworthy that the spark of fighting broke out on the fourth of November between the Ethiopian army and the forces loyal to the Tigray People's Liberation Front.

The leaders of the Popular Front, who had enjoyed strong popular support for years in the region, fled to the mountains surrounding the region.

The Tigray People's Liberation Front accuses the Ethiopian Prime Minister, its former political partner, of trying to expand his personal power at the expense of Ethiopia's ten regions.

On his part, Abiy denied those claims, and described the members of the Front as "criminals who rebelled against the federal authority and attacked a military base." He said their representation in government is too large for a group that makes up only 6% of the country's population.