Ongoing Civil War in Ethiopia, the war
Continued from last…
As feared on the night of November the 2nd the war started when the TPLF forces attacked the military camps of the northern command in Tigray. It was alleged within 2–4 hours of operation, almost all the heavy armaments of the northern command were confiscated and much of the soldiers were either killed, flee to Eritrea or cooperate with TPLF forces. At the same day and the following, the war continued in the western front of Dansha and the Tigray-Amhara borders of Wolkait and Tsegede territories. Since then all internet and telecom connections were severed in Tigray and no news of families and friends known.
Few days after the war started the TPLF claimed that Eritrean artilleries were shelling the western town of Humera. After a week it was alleged that Ethiopian and Eritrean forces opened new fight through northern towns of Badime, Tsorena, Zalambesa and Alitena. Airstrikes were also intensified in many areas in an effort to destroy the long range missiles and rockets (300 km) now under TPLF control. Getachew Reda the spokes person of Tigray Central Command declared that they are ready to attack those airports from where the fighting jets were propelling and landing. Following this warning, three rockets were landed in Bahir Dar and Gonder Airports. On the second night another three landed in the Eritrean Capital Asmara.
The TPLF seems ready to negotiate as it has been asking for international mediators to intervene. But the PM refuses all requests and pressures made by external actors starting with the UN to European Commission and some African countries. He said that the “law enforcement measure will continue until such time the perpetrators would be put in custody.” In relation to this one, he called upon all Special Forces and militia who are fighting alongside the TPLF to cease fire and come to the Federal forces and they shall be give amnesty. He gave three days and this cutoff date was expired on the 17 of Nov and hence war shall continue again.
The Federal forces claimed that they controlled significant and strategic points along the road to Mekele and they declared that they would control the capital within few days. On the Western front it seems the Federal forces gained much land and quickly approaching the town of Shire. It is also said that the Tigray forces destroyed about three bridges to slow down the movement of the Federal troops. Meantime, there is also airstrikes in Mekele and other areas although the causalities on civilians are small. Yet the number of refugees crossing to Sudan is increasing by day and by now it reaches 25,000. UN agencies are asking for assistance to cope with the unexpected influx.
Meanwhile there are mass arrest of Tigrayan descent citizens in all the country in general and Addis Ababa in particular by charging them as collaborators of the TPLF regime. There are massive house searches in Tigrayan houses in a bid to seize hidden fire arms arms although it is suspected most people of other ethnicity as well hold guns because of the insecurity felt in Addis Ababa in the past two years. The public sentiment seems also going high against the Tigray people and some extreme activists being asked for mass arrest of genocidal nature. If the war in the north will not be ended well or soon, the public resentment in the center will be badly shifted towards innocent Tigrayans.
