Ethiopian troops have been ordered to remain in the Afar and Amhara regions, which have been liberated from TPLF forces. Ethiopian secur...
Ethiopian troops have been ordered to remain in the Afar and Amhara regions, which have been liberated from TPLF forces.
Ethiopian security forces recapture Afar and Amhara regions
The government withdrew its troops from Tigray at the end of June last year following a ceasefire, which has since spread to the Afar and Amhara regions.
Statement by Dr. Legesse Tulu, Head of Government Communication Services: He explained that for various reasons, the army has temporarily decided not to enter the Tigray region.
In recent weeks, the federal government forces and the forces of Afar and Amhara states have taken control of several areas held by TPLF forces.
Dr. Legesse said the 'Campaign for National Unity' mission has achieved its original goal of liberating areas held by TPLF forces.
"I do not say that drones are not a reason for us to return to Tigray," said General Tsadqan
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He noted that the rebel-held areas of Afar and Amhara had been liberated and that the government had "achieved its goal of re-establishing security in the country."
He said the TPLF's current interests and capacity have been severely curtailed.
He said the government had "ordered" the army to remain in its current position, citing "reasons".
He said the decision was taken to prevent the army from facing any problems and attacks in Tigray in the past and to take appropriate action when necessary.
He also mentioned that if he enters the government army in Tigray, he will "protect the army and the government from the conspiracy of the TPLF." He explained that the group was preparing to file a lawsuit alleging genocide by setting up mass graves for soldiers killed during the war.
However, Dr. Legesse said the government has the right and obligation to enter Tigray at any time and place to fulfill its constitutional responsibility in the face of threats to the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
A few days ago, Deputy Foreign Minister Redwan Hussein told Addis Ababa-based foreign ambassadors that the Ethiopian government was not interested in launching a military operation in Tigray to pursue the TPLF.
He also said that the TPLF would do everything possible to prevent the TPLF from carrying out any further attacks and would respect the right of the federal government to deploy troops in all parts of the country, including Tigray, to fulfill its responsibility to maintain the unity of the country.
The war, which lasted for more than a year, is said to have caused severe human and material damage, with heavy casualties in the Afar and Amhara regions, which have been under rebel control in recent months.
TPLF forces have been infiltrating the two regions since the beginning of this year, controlling several areas and trying to gain control of the port of Djibouti via Afar and advance to Addis Ababa, but have been unsuccessful.
Particularly since mid-November, the federal government, in conjunction with regional forces, has been able to recapture key positions held by TPLF forces rather than halt the progress of the TPLF.
A few days ago, TPLF leaders said they were withdrawing their forces from the Afar and Amhara regions to provide a peaceful solution, but the Ethiopian government said it had suffered a major military defeat.
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