The Ethiopian government in a statement from its Facebook page on Wednesday confirmed the clash between its forces and Tigris fighters. The government accused Tigreyan forces of attacking at 5 a.m. local time on Wednesday and “violated the ceasefire.”
The Tigre People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which currently controls the northern Tigre region, claimed that government forces launched a “comprehensive offensive” early in the morning on their southern front, claiming that the government had been attacked by Amhara special forces and volunteer fighters. assistance was provided.
The TPLF also alleged that the government and its allies were deploying troops around the southern border five days ago.
setback for peace talks
There are fears that the renewed hostilities will affect progress towards peace talks between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government and the leaders of the TPLF.
The two had shown potential interest in talks in June, leading Abiy to set up a committee to negotiate peace talks.
But both have made conflicting statements in recent weeks, with the TPLF expressing major concerns over mediation of the African Union (AU) and demanding restoration of key services such as banking and communications to the Tigre before any talks with the government .
The federal government, however, insists that no preconditions should be set before the AU intervenes.
The two sides have been locked in conflict since the war broke out in Tigre in November 2020 and have since spread to neighboring Amhara and Afar.
According to the Center for Internal Displacement Monitoring, the conflict has killed thousands in 2021 and set a world record for displacement.
Humanitarian aid began entering the Tigre earlier this year after a prolonged disruption. But without enough fuel to distribute supplies to the region, aid has not been effective in containing the crisis as malnutrition rates in the region “skyrocketed,” according to the latest report from the World Food Program.
“The government is adamant that peace is always the best solution,” the official statement read. However, it emphasized that it will “take all necessary steps to defend the country,” adding that “the government and security forces are mobilizing all their resources and capabilities.”