Araweelo News Network.
Mekelle (ANN)-The Tigray Defense Forces (TDF), formed seven months ago but backed by TPLF fighters and others, took control of the Tigray region last Monday, eight months after it was hit by fighting. in collaboration with Ethiopian Federal Government forces and former Eritrean enemies backed by militias in the Amhara region.
On Friday, the Tigayrean Defense Forces (TDF), and the TPLF group displayed thousands of Ethiopian Federal Government soldiers on the streets of Mekelle, who were captured during the fighting.
Pictures published by the New York Times show thousands of Ethiopian soldiers captured during the fighting, displayed on the streets of Mekelle.
It was a surprise to the world’s media when they saw Ethiopia claiming to be one of Africa’s most militarily powerful countries with thousands of its soldiers being held captive on the streets. The guerrillas say they are prisoners of war.
The Tigrayean Defense Forces (TDF), established 7 months ago. But with the support of TPLF fighters, they have captured prisoners of war from the Federal Government of Ethiopia in a major victory, after eight months of bloodshed in the region, with massacres, rapes, looting and Ethiopian government forces. With the help of Eritreans and militias, has besieged the region and has ignored calls for access to aid, medical, food and humanitarian supplies.
Ethiopia: Abiy discusses reasons for withdrawing troops from Mekelle
Residents of Mekelle, the capital of Tigray state, came out to watch the government troops captured in battle, dressed in Ethiopian military uniforms, surrounded by guerrillas, and the faces of the prisoners lowered. Bending over, showing sadness.
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Tigrayan officials say the prisoners have been taken from various camps to a large prison on the outskirts of Makelle.
The federal government of Abiy has previously said it has voluntarily withdrawn its troops from the region, and has since, declared a “humanitarian ceasefire” in Tigray, saying a ceasefire is needed to allow agricultural activities. and the delivery of aid, it said, adding that all troops had withdrawn from the region, but that was denied by the displayed detainees held by the TPLF.
But TPLF forces continued fighting, capturing large swathes of territory, including the town of Shire. The Tigray rebels now appear to be in control of the long-running conflict, but the situation there is being undermined, with the federal government cutting off communications and medical services and aid supplies, according to the Red Cross, The humanitarian situation in the region.
On Monday, former Tigrayan commanders returned to Mekelle, and the Ethiopian government immediately declared a ceasefire. The regional capital of Mekelle was captured by TPLF fighters, following deadly clashes and humanitarian crises. caused by the fighting there since November 2020, but now that the Tigray rebels have recaptured the region, the ousted Ethiopian government suddenly declared a ceasefire, causing millions of dollars in losses and facing Ethiopia Diplomatic pressure from abroad, as well as Sudan’s occupation of disputed territory.
Similarly, Ethiopian and Eritrean Special Forces backed by Amhara militias have been accused of brutally massacring unarmed civilians, raping, looting and abusing Tigrayans.
Abiy amed, in a speech to parliament in March, acknowledged that abuses had taken place and promised to hold accountable any member of the Ethiopian army who committed crimes against civilians.
The fighting, which has forced millions of people to flee their homes, displaced more than 2 million, and left at least 350,000 people facing starvation, while another 5 million are in urgent need of food aid, according to the report. The United Nations has described the situation in Tigray as the world’s worst food crisis in a decade.
In Ethiopia, one of the world’s poorest countries, home to more than eighty ethnic groups, fighting in the Tigray region has severely damaged the cohesion and trust of ethnic communities, with some ethnic clashes causing casualties deaths and injuries, but the end of the eight-month defeat was seen as a factor in the disintegration of ethnic groups such as Yugoslavia, as well as instability that has negatively affected security in the Horn of Africa.
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By Arraale M Jama Freelance Journalist and Human Rights activist.
info@araweelonews.com