Tag Archives: Ahmed Abiy

Regional

Ethiopia gives Tigray forces 72 hours to surrender as conflict rages

Maravi Post Reporter 1 Comment

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The Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has issued a 72 hour ultimatum to Tigrayan regional forces to surrender or face military offensive.

Ahmed said if the Tigray forces fail to surrender the military will storm the regional capital Mekelle.

The regional rebels fighting the federal forces are based in Mekelle, the regional capital of Tigray, a state in Ethiopia’s northern region.

But the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), has rejected such an order saying its forces were digging trenches and standing firm.

The rebels have refused to surrender its rule of the northern region which has about 500, 000 residents.

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There are already reports of federal forces advancing towards to the region to contain the rebels.

Since the conflict started in November this year, hundreds have been killed and more than 30,000 refugees have fled to neighbouring Sudan.

Tigrayan leaders have accused the federal government of marginalizing Tigrayans since Ahmed took office two years ago.

The prime minister is accused of removing Tigray leaders from senior roles in government and the military and detaining many on rights abuse and corruption charges.

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The government also says the Tigrayan leaders are revolting against central authority and starting the conflict by attacking federal troops in the town of Dansha.

Ethiopia to ‘receive and reintegrate’ those fleeing Tigray conflict

Source: Africafeeds.com

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Regional

Ethiopia: 25,000 flee conflict in Tigray region to Sudan

Maravi Post Reporter

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The conflict in Tigray region in Ethiopia continues to deepen, forcing some 25,000 Ethiopians to flee into neighbouring Sudan.

According to the state news agency SUNA “The number of Ethiopian refugees who have arrived in Gadaref and Kassala states since Saturday has reached 24,944.”

UN refugee agency officials toured the border region on Saturday and discuss the influx with Sudanese officials.

The UNHCR assistant representative in Sudan Jan Hansmann has said that the priority of hi agency was to provide the refugees with shelter, food and water.

The agency hopes to also transfer them to regions far from the border “for security reasons”.

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Officials in Sudan and the UNHCR are now working towards establishing new camps in Sudan for the Ethiopians refugees.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed this month ordered military operations in Tigray region after accusing forces in the region of attacking federal troops.

The move has escalated a long-running feud with the region’s ruling party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

On Sunday the leader of the Tigray region claimed responsibility for rocket strikes on the airport of neighbouring Eritrea’s capital.

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There are concerns the conflict could widen and create more tension, forcing some 200,000 people to flee.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has already rejected a request for peace talks over the worsening conflict situation in Tigray.

Sudan ‘closes border with Ethiopia’ over tension in Tigray region

Source: Africafeeds.com

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