[88], On the night of 9 to 10 November, 600 civilians, mostly Amhara people and Welkait people, were killed in a massacre in the town of Mai Kadra with machetes and knives used by local militias and police loyal to the TPLF, according to preliminary investigations by Amnesty International and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission. Ethiopia’s army, backed by forces from neighboring Eritrea, has since November been battling fighters loyal to Tigray’s dissident former ruling party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. On 2 December 2020 the United Nations was promised humanitarian access to the territory held by the ENDF in the Tigray Region. [155], Since the start of the conflict, there has been a limited access to clean water due to hygiene and sanitation services largely being disrupted across Tigray. [146] Guld stated that 370 of the Somali troops trained by Eritrea were killed in Tigray and hundreds of others were wounded. Several people were killed and the TPLF claimed the attack was carried out in "self-defence." [128][129][130] On 23 November, the government issued an ultimatum giving the rebels 72 hours to surrender. [164], Claire Wilmot, writing in The Washington Post, found that a significant number of new, single-issue Twitter accounts were opened in the immediate aftermath of the 4 November attacks. The Tigray Regional Water Bureau reported that out of 36 villages it assessed, only 4 had partially functioning water sources. After admitting Eritrea’s role, Abiy flies to its capital, Asmara, to meet Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki. 51 – 10 January 2021", "Refugees flee Ethiopia's brutal war with tales of atrocities on both sides", "Massacres in Bora Selewa and Debre Abay", "A graphic footage of the Debre Abay massacre: What do we know about it? In total 27 civilians were killed and 100 others were injured. More than 61,000 Ethiopians fled into Sudan, according to the … Many of the refugees are fleeing a thrust by Ethiopian forces into the west of Tigray… In a closed door election to chair the EPRDF, executive committee members from Amhara, Oromo and Southern Nations Nationalities Peoples regions voted for Abiy Ahmed in defiance of the TPLF, which was hoping to get Shiferaw Shigute elected chairman. The head of the transport division of Ayder Referral Hospital and his son were beaten by soldiers, and stated that there were many injured who were not being brought to the hospital.[206]. He also suggests they may have been involved in atrocities against civilians. [166] In February, pro-government groups called on their supporters in Ethiopia and the diaspora to combat what they called "TPLF fake news" online. Abiy, the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize winner, promised the air and ground operation would be swift and targeted. The ENDF gained control of Humera on 12 November. On 9 January 2021, Ethiopian TV reported that 300 refugees in Hitsats camp were executed by the TPLF. “Further deterioration is expected as the conflict continues and disrupts the … The prime minister blames the attack on the TPLF, which was at the helm of Ethiopia’s governing coalition for nearly 30 years until he took office in 2018. While the governments of both Ethiopia and Eritrea have denied such claims, and the UN Secretary General has … On 4 November 2020, TPLF and Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) soldiers came into conflict during the TPLF attacks on the ENDF Northern Command headquarters in Mekelle, the Fifth Battalion barracks in Dansha, and other Northern Command bases. [165], Ethnic profiling against Tigrayans occurred during the Tigray War, with Ethiopians of Tigrayan ethnicity being put on indefinite leave from Ethiopian Airlines or refused permission to board,[169] prevented from overseas travel,[161] and an "order of identifying ethnic Tigrayans from all government agencies and NGOs" being used by federal police to request a list of ethnic Tigrayans from an office of the World Food Programme. It says the Ethiopian government is “providing significant portion of the humanitarian assistance delivered to those in need and will continue to allocate the maximum available resources” and stressed the commitment to “investigate and ensure accountability” for alleged human rights violations “will be upheld”. [57][58], On 2 April 2018, the once powerful TPLF was ousted from power in the federal government owing to a growing discontent within the public, a reaction to 27 years of repression. [141][142][143] On the same day, 150 civilians were reported to have been killed by Eritrean forces in Edaga Hamus. [63] Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who is of Oromo descent, accused the TPLF Party Members in the Tigray Regional Government of undermining his authority. [137], Refugees told VICE World News that Eritrea is in control of parts of the northern Maekelay Zone and most likely extending beyond the zone. Different refugees told VICE that not only did Eritreans cross into border areas, but they also took control of the area. [54], On 19 February 2021, the TPLF expressed its wish for peace negotiations, declaring eight preconditions for the negotiations. 53 – 12 January 2021", "Conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray Province "may be on the edge of Genocide" – to be raised in an urgent question in the House of Lords tomorrow", "US calls for end to conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray: Pompeo", "Biden team anxious over escalating war in U.S. ally Ethiopia", "U.S condemns Tigray forces' attacks on Eritrea", "U.S. to de-link Ethiopian aid pause from dam policy", "US Will Not Resume Aid to Ethiopia for Most Security Programs | Voice of America – English", "Ethiopia reshuffles top officials as Tigray conflict grows", "Tigray conflict: EU humanitarian support to Ethiopian refugees reaching Sudan", "EU considers aid cut to Ethiopia amid violence", "EU suspends Ethiopian budget support over Tigray crisis", "African bloc urges ceasefire as Ethiopia claims airport in Tigray", "the federal govt took bold steps to preserve the unity, stability and respect for the constitutional order of the country", Ethiopia's Tigray region has seen famine before: why it could happen again, People go hungry in Ethiopia's Tigray as conflict marches on, "Tigray (Ethiopia) – In absence of major international diplomacy and rescue, towards a repeat of the great famine of 1984–1985", Petition: Allow immediate and full humanitarian access and stop starvation in war-affected Tigray, "1 dead as soldiers fire on protest in Tigray capital: doctor", "Ethiopia's war against its Tigray region may spread beyond existing borders", "A Group Of Protesters Against The Tigray War Made Their Way To The State Capitol Today", "Demonstrations in the Netherlands against war in Tigray", "Las Vegas Ethiopian community protests war on Tigray region", "Norwegian Ethiopians and Eritreans unite against the war in Tigray", "Louisville's Ethiopian community calls for Biden to add pressure to help end Tigray conflict", "Eye on Africa – Protests take place in South Africa against Ethiopia's Tigray conflict", "Colorado's Ethiopian communities divided on political conflict, worry about their families", "Ethiopian Americans in Aurora pray for loved ones in Tigray conflict", "Ethiopians in Portland protest ongoing Tigray war", "Protest held in downtown Sioux City about Ethiopian government", "NPO Radio 1, 26 January 2021: In Tigray is aan alles tekort: 'Mensen eten takken en bladeren, https://waltainfo.com/diaspora-in-milan-hold-rally-in-support-of-the-government-of-ethiopia/, Tigray: Atlas of the Humanitarian Situation, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tigray_War&oldid=1022133366, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with failed verification from March 2021, Articles with disputed statements from March 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. According to WHO, all of the functioning hospitals and health centres in Tigray had a lack of medical supplies, drugs and equipment. [33] The TPLF vowed to continue fighting. [170] Tigrayans' houses were arbitrarily searched and Tigrayan bank accounts were suspended. About 4.5 million people of are still in need of aid and about 1 million of that are not in accessible areas due to ongoing fighting. As the refugee flow swells, tensions mount between Ethiopia and Sudan, part of whose frontier is disputed. The findings by the government-affiliated but independent body corroborate separate investigations by both Amnesty and Human Rights Watch. Undisputed evidence of Eritrean military involvement in the conflict in Tigray region of Ethiopia between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) is hard to come by, but some claim there is evidence showing the involvement of Eritrea in the war. Soldiers from Eritrea, long an enemy of Tigray’s now-fugitive leaders, have also been blamed for some of the worst human rights abuses in the Tigray conflict… [62] In 2020, tensions between the government and Tigray escalated in the months before the November Tigray military intervention. The conflict began in November after the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) captured military bases in the northern Ethiopian region. [61], The TPLF used to be part of the Ethiopian governing coalition until its 2019 refusal to merge into the Prosperity Party. [157][159], As of December 2020, the UN estimated more than one million people have been internally displaced by the fighting. The video has not been dated as of yet. For months, Ethiopia and Eritrea flatly deny the involvement of Eritrean forces in the conflict. [7] On 29 November, claims that South Sudan was giving safe haven to Debretsion, led to the Ethiopian ambassador to South Sudan abruptly returning to Ethiopia, and South Sudanese diplomats in Ethiopia allegedly being given 72 hours to leave the country. The European Union accused Eritrean troops of fueling the months-long conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region and echoed a U.S. call for their withdrawal. Debretsion Gebremichael(President of Tigray Region, Chairman of TPLF) Fetlework Gebregziabher(Deputy Chair of TPLF) Getachew Reda(TPLF Spokesperson), (Unknown)[18][19] 1 MiG-23 aircraft[20] 1 Mi-35 helicopter[21][22](Unknown)[23][24][25], The Tigray War is an ongoing armed conflict that began around midnight of 3–4 November 2020 in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. [131] On 26 November, after the ultimatum ended, Abiy ordered federal military forces to launch an attack on Mekelle. BY … For months Ethiopia and Eritrea flatly deny the involvement of Eritrean forces in the conflict. Mutinies were reported among the ENDF troops as some didn't want to fight the TPLF in the mountains. [120], On 26 December 2020, it was reported that Eritrea started withdrawing some of its troops from Tigray. [127], By 18 November, Abiy claimed that the Ethiopian National Defense Force had captured the cities of Shire and Axum with battles continuing around Mekelle; Ethiopian forces further claimed to have taken some land south of the city. [119] The EDF would also kill 13 boys aged 12–15 from 1 December to 14 December in Tokot. Eritrea and Ethiopia blame the conflict on TPLF-orchestrated attacks on federal army camps in early November and describe it as a campaign to restore law and order. Having rejected peace talks and international calls for an end to the fighting, Abiy says government tanks are advancing on Tigray’s capital, Mekelle. [168] Researchers found that groups use tactics such as "copy and paste" campaigns hosted on websites, which include instructions for opening new accounts, copying and pasting pre-written tweets, and tagging influencers. [157] More than 50,000 people have fled to Sudan due to the conflict. [53] An emergency Intergovernmental Authority on Development summit of East African heads of government and state met on 20 December 2020 in Djibouti, resulting in a statement of support for the Ethiopian constitutional order and humanitarian access to Tigray Region. The 15-member body also calls for “a scaled-up humanitarian response and unfettered humanitarian access” to address humanitarian needs, including for people in the embattled region who are in need of food assistance. [36][59] In one instance, the regional administration of Tigray is reported to have defied the federal government and refused to allow Ethiopian Federal Police to arrest Getachew Assefa, the former chief of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) of Ethiopia and executive member of TPLF. [87] Ethiopian offensives in the north were accompanied with airstrikes and several towns and cities were retaken. “The humanitarian situation has gotten from bad to worse,” Vanessa Tsehaye, Horn of Africa campaigner for Amnesty, told Al Jazeera on Tuesday. Since then, Ethiopia’s Tigray region has reportedly continued to be affected by incidents of armed conflict. As fighting intensifies, there are concerns a conflict in Ethiopia could reverberate across the already fragile Horn of Africa, impacting neighbours Somalia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Sudan. [96][dubious – discuss] [97][b], On 14 November 2020, Tigrayan forces launched rockets at the Eritrean capital of Asmara, but the missiles missed. Other soldiers claimed that the attackers were Amhara Region militias. Furthermore, Lowcock says he received a report of 150 people dying of hunger in one area of southern Tigray, calling it “a sign of what lies ahead if more action is not taken”. [132][133] On 28 November, the Ethiopian government announced that it had taken control of the city, bringing "the last phase of its law enforcement operation" to an end. ... Porter said Senator Chris Coons had had a successful meeting with Abiy in Addis Ababa to discuss the Tigray conflict. He also suggests they may have been involved in atrocities against civilians. “This is partly a result of parties of the conflict acting with a sense of impunity, and the lack of access to humanitarian organisations to document and hold perpetrators accountable is providing the sense that they are going to get away with what they are doing.”, Jerusalem tensions running high as Palestinians head to Al-Aqsa. Abiy was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 for resolving a long-running conflict with neighboring Eritrea, ending two decades of hostilities. Researchers suggested that reducing access to information could help to create contexts where misinformation can thrive, because it reduces the ability to verify information. These protests included: Armed conflict between Tigray People's Liberation Front and Ethiopia and allies since 2020, A request that this article title be changed to, Internal displacement and forced displacement, Protests opposing the TPLF and/or supporting the federal Ethiopian government, Other maps of territorial control in this war are presented by, A few EEPA articles begin with the following injunction: ". NAIROBI - The conflict in Ethiopia’s rebellious Tigray region is less than two weeks old but is already having a growing regional impact, with effects felt in Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia. While fighting between the TPLF and Ethiopia continued in Zalambessa and Ethiopian forces starting moving towards Adigrat. [124] [105] From 17–19 November, Ethiopian forces captured the cities of Shire, Alamata, Raya, Adwa and Axum. [95], Offensives of joint ENDF-Amhara Region-Eritrean forces into Tigray were facilitated by the intervention of "Pterosaurus" drones, launched by the United Arab Emirates from its base in Assab in Eritrea. Opponents describe the Tigray People's Liberation Front also as a heavily armed ethnic nationalist[69][70][71][72] paramilitary insurgency,[73] terrorist organization,[74] political party,[75] and former ruling authoritarian regime[76] of Ethiopia. But on March 23, Abiy finally admits that Eritrean troops had crossed the border into Tigray. Along with that, an estimated 250 motorized water pumping systems have been out of order, and the status of 11,000 hand pumps in rural areas were unknown. For months, Ethiopia and Eritrea flatly deny the involvement of Eritrean forces in the conflict. [85][86] During the subsequent days, skirmishes continued and the Ethiopian parliament declared the creation of an interim government for Tigray. [33], On 28 and 29 November 2020, witnesses and survivors including refugees in Sudan reported that the Eritrean Defence Forces (EDF) carried out the Axum massacre of about 720–800 civilians. The TPLF said they would continue fighting. [150][151][152][153][154] By 13 March 2021, the UN and its partners reached about 0.9 million people with complete food baskets, and 0.7 million people with clean water. The federal government had warned of "no mercy" if TPLF and residents remained intermingled. Opposition groups have said the death toll from the Tigray conflict amounts to at least 52,000. The Abiy-appointed interim government estimates that some 4.5 million people now need food assistance. Since the start of the conflict, the Ethiopian federal government has strictly controlled access to the Tigray region, and the UN has said it is frustrated that talks with the Ethiopian government had not yet secured adequate humanitarian access for "food, including ready-to-use therapeutic food for the treatment of child malnutrition, medicines, water, fuel, and other essentials that are running low" said UNICEF. Earlier this month the former president … [33], Even though TPLF leaders, Tigray special forces and militia forces had already left the city, the Ethiopian forces still began their direct assault on Mekelle on the morning of 28 November and started heavy shelling of the city. We urge all parties to ensure the safety and protection of civilians", "Ethiopia: UN officials allege war crimes in Tigray | DW | 05.03.2021", "Ethiopia explains legal measures in Tigray to Turkey – Turkey News", "Dışişleri Bakanı Çavuşoğlu: Etiyopya'da çatışmaların arasında kalan Türk vatandaşlar Addis Ababa'ya getirildi", "Turkish FM Çavuşoğlu, Ethiopian counterpart Demeke discuss Tigray conflict, legal measures", "Polish statement regarding the massacre in front of the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Aksum", "Ethiopia's conflict spills over border as thousands flee", "Situation Report EEPA Horn No. [117][dubious – discuss], By 16 December 2020, fighting had reached the places of Hagere Selam, Samre, Dogu’a, Kolla Tembien, May Tsemre, and around Maychew. Even if the claims about Eritrea’s alleged military involvement in Tigray were true, it is important to note that it would only be possible through the total agreement and full consent of the Ethiopian government. As fighting in Ethiopia’s northernmost region hits the six-month mark, we take a look at some of the most important events of the conflict. As tension continued to grow, a general appointed by Abiy was prevented by the Tigrayan government from taking up his military post. Tigray’s battle-hardened, powerful military also took the lead in Ethiopia’s war against neighbouring Eritrea that raged from 1998 to 2000 over disputed border territory. EU pulls Eritrea funding, citing Tigray conflict, 'lack of interest'. [60], On 1 December 2019, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed merged the ethnic and region-based parties of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (which had governed Ethiopia for 27 years) and several opposition parties into his new Prosperity Party. The TPLF claimed these locations contained military terminals that served as bases to carry out airstrikes. [62], The 1995 Constitution of Ethiopia states in Article 39.1, "Every Nation, Nationality and People in Ethiopia has an unconditional right to self-determination, including the right to secession. The TPLF repeatedly fired rockets at Eritrea after the conflict began. Myanmar military designates shadow gov’t as ‘terrorist’ group, Pakistan imposes Eid lockdown as COVID cases soar, Hundreds hurt as Palestinians protest evictions in Jerusalem, Scores of Palestinians hurt as Israel police storm Al Aqsa, ‘Not $1’: US lawmaker urges end to complicity in Israeli abuses, Saudi Arabia-Pakistan agree to mend strained ties, Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights. Abiy came to … [166] BBC News showed examples of manipulated photos which misleadingly endorsed both the federal Ethiopian government and the TPLF. [165][166] The Ethiopian government tried to control the information environment by positioning itself as the sole provider of reliable information. [49], Peace and mediation proposals included an early November African Union (AU) mediation proposed by Debretsion and refused by Abiy;[50][51] an AU trio of former African presidents who visited Ethiopia in late November;[52][53] an emergency Intergovernmental Authority on Development summit of East African heads of government and state that met in late 20 December 2020 in Djibouti;[54] and peace proposals on 19 February by the TPLF[55] and on 20 February by the National Congress of Great Tigray (Baytona), Tigray Independence Party (TIP) and Salsay Weyane Tigray (SAWET). Both campaigns produced disinformation and misinformation, though the majority of content produced was activist in nature. After losing the election and being ousted from the federal government, TPLF officials relocated to Tigray and continued administering the region for three years frequently clashing with the federal government. [36] The founding and most influential member was the TPLF and the chairperson was Meles Zenawi, who was the Prime Minister of Ethiopia until his death in 2012. [157], There have been “deeply distressing reports of sexual and gender-based violence, extrajudicial killings, [and the] widespread destruction and looting of public and private property by all parties” according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. However, fighting continues in parts of Tigray. [29][30][31] The Tigrayan Special Forces received reinforcements from defecting ENDF soldiers and civilians joining them and muted into Tigray Defence Forces. The TPLF, led by its chairman Debretsion Gebremichael, went ahead with regional elections in Tigray in September 2020 in defiance of the federal government, which then declared the Tigray election illegal. [111][82] Many residents of Mekelle had already left the city due to airstrikes in and around the city, but many others still remained in the city. [136], In February 2021, UN chief coordinator of humanitarian efforts Mark Lowcock said that up 40% of Tigray was not controlled by Ethiopian troops. During the visit, Abiy says Eritrea has agreed to pull its forces back over the border. Fighting in Tigray disrupted the harvest in a region that was already food insecure. Tens of thousands of refugees flee into neighbouring Sudan, describing the horror of intense fighting, including horrific killings. [163], The fighting has killed thousands, according to International Crisis Group. Worldwide, humanitarian organisations and the scientific community asked for a rapid ceasefire and delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Tigray. However, violence rumbles on and reports of massacres, rape and widespread hunger continue to emerge as analysts warn of a protracted conflict that risks dragging on for years. ", "Kriege ohne Grenzen und das "erfolgreiche Scheitern" der Staaten am Horn von Afrika", "Ethiopia's Tigray Group, Once Powerful, Now Battles Government Forces in Bid for Survival", https://www.trackingterrorism.org/group/tigray-peoples-liberation-front-tplf, "Diaspora Protesters in US, Canada Back Ethiopian Government's Handling of Tigray Conflict | Voice of America – English", "Ethiopia's Tigray blocks general's appointment in blow to Abiy", "Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia", "News: Tigray region says it will defy federal laws enacted as of Oct. 05; EDP calls for transitional gov't, inclusive dialogue & reconciliation", "The Tigray crisis: Analysis from a variety of sources", "Ethiopia: A timeline of the Tigray crisis | DW | 17.11.2020", "What To Know About Ethiopia's Tigray Conflict", "State of Emergency Inquiry Board Begins Work", "Ethiopia warns civilians of 'no mercy' in Tigray offensive", "Ethiopia declares state of emergency in opposition-ruled Tigray", "News Alert: House of Federation adopts resolution to establish a transitional government in Tigray", "Several injured in airstrikes on Tigray capital, humanitarian source says", "Ethiopia: Investigation reveals evidence that scores of civilians were killed in massacre in Tigray state", "Ethiopians fleeing to Sudan describe air strikes and machete killings in Tigray", "After the bombs they attacked with knives, claim Ethiopians fleeing peace prize winner's war", "70 clandestine burial pits found in Humera-reports", "Situation Report EEPA HORN No. The Chinese-made, armed drones bombed Tigrayan towns and defence forces. Eritrea’s Alleged Involvement in Ethiopia’s Tigray Conflict. [79], On 4 November 2020, TPLF and Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) soldiers came into conflict during the TPLF attacks on the ENDF Northern Command headquarters in Mekelle, the Fifth Battalion barracks in Dansha, and other Northern Command bases. The Tigray People's Liberation Front, a politically powerful entity that had dominated Ethiopian politics for 27 years as a repressive regime[36] through a one-party dominant system,[36] refused to join the new party. “The accessibility of the region for humanitarian organisations might have improved but the situation right now is catastrophic,” she said. More reports of atrocities emerge, with civilians accusing Eritrean forces of carrying out massacres and systematic rape. By the evening Prime Minister Abiy declared Ethiopian forces had taken full control of the city. [144], Somalia was involved in the Tigray War according to former head of the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency, Abdilsalan Guld. The city comes under heavy shelling before Abiy announces on November 28 that military operations in Tigray are “completed”. While in Enderta, Abi Adi and Shire, GOAL and IRC reported that 16.6% of children screened had acute malnutrition with 3.5% suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Most appeared to be authentic accounts from people seeking to raise international awareness of the conflict in the midst of a communications blackout in Tigray. TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael also says his forces have been fighting Eritrean troops “on several fronts” for the past few days. [99] In the late hours of 13 November 2020 TPLF-affilated forces fired a rocket towards the cities of Bahir Dar and Gondar in the Amhara Region. Flags representing the Tigray region of Ethiopia lining a wall in the Tigrayan city of Mekele. UN scraps plans for resolution on Ethiopia's Tigray region.
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