NAIROBI, Kenya
Authorities in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region alleged Wednesday that Ethiopia’s military launched a “large-scale” offensive for the first time in a year, which would be a significant setback to mediation efforts and humanitarian work to feed millions of people starved of food and other necessities.
The claim by Tigray’s military
command after months of military regrouping and a warning this week by
Ethiopia’s military against any reporting of troop movements in media and on
social media.
The Tigray conflict erupted in
November 2020, killing thousands of people, and calmed in recent months amid
slow-moving mediation efforts. But last week, the spokeswoman for Prime
Minister Abiy Ahmed asserted to journalists that Tigray authorities were
“refusing to accept peace talks.”
The Tigray military command’s
statement Wednesday said: “Ethiopian forces, along with Amhara special forces
and Amhara militias, have started a large-scale attack around 5:00 a.m. in the
direction of Alamata, southern
Tigray forces spokesman
Getachew Reda tweeted that the offensive followed a “week-long provocation” by
forces in the neighboring Amhara region.
Ethiopian military spokesman
Getnet Adane did not respond to questions. In a tweet, Ethiopia’s ambassador to
the United Arab Emirates alleged it was the Tigray forces that launched an
offensive.
In a Facebook post Tuesday,
Ethiopia’s army rejected allegations of a military buildup or attacks and
claimed the Tigray forces were “engaged in pre-conflict noise.” The post warned
against spreading “secrets of the army.”
Ethiopia’s government has said
it’s ready for talks but insists the African Union must lead mediation efforts.
Tigray authorities have criticized the continental body’s efforts and urgently
sought the resumption of basic services that have been largely cut off since
the war began.
Humanitarian aid began flowing
to Tigray in recent months, but a new report by the World Food Program last
week said that with little fuel allowed into the region, “this is yet to
translate into increased humanitarian assistance.” The U.N. agency’s report
said the region’s “rates of malnutrition have skyrocketed,” with 29% of
children malnourished and 2.4 million people severely food insecure.
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