Ethiopia Troops Seen Moving Toward Tigray After Truce Agreed

Hundreds of Ethiopian forces converged on a village near the northern Tigray province's border, only days after the government and regional rebels agreed to a humanitarian cease-fire following nearly 17 months of conflict.

 

According to Bloomberg, 32 buses transporting troops have been sighted in Kobo, Amhara state, south of Tigray, in the last several days, some of them may be replacing personnel who are being cycled, according to Addisu Wedajo, the town's mayor.

 

While the extra soldiers may make it easier to build a humanitarian corridor, allowing assistance to reach millions of people in need, their presence may jeopardize the truce.

 

"Neither the people nor the regional administration have agreed to a cease-fire," Addisu stated. "There is a worry that if the federal forces move, we would be in jeopardy, therefore everyone is maintaining their place."

 

The federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front signed an agreement on March 25 that is the closest the two sides have come to a cease-fire since hostilities began in November 2020. Requests for comment on the deployment were not immediately returned by the authorities.

 

According to TPLF spokesperson Getachew Reda, the TPLF would not do anything to obstruct aid supplies, but it will constantly watch army movements.

 

"There is no evidence at this time that such activities are intended to secure the road for help," he added. "We're also not concerned that the fresh troops will be used to overwhelm our positions at this time."

 

On March 22, Yilkal Kefale, the Amhara region's president, notified regional leaders that the federal government and its regional partners planned to increase troop numbers.

 

'Large Force' 

 

"The Ethiopian National Defense Force is now undergoing training to carry out its mission. He stated, "It has been organizing, training, and strengthening itself." "The Amhara area is putting together a formidable army."

 

After forces loyal to regional authority attacked a federal army camp, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed authorized an expedition into Tigray, sparking the battle. The TPLF, which had previously been the country's premier power broker, had been sidelined by Abiy, resulting in months of conflict.

 

While the government has not revealed the number of people killed and access to the battle zone has been limited, there are suspicions that tens of thousands of people have perished as a result of violence, malnutrition, and a lack of medical treatment. The United Nations said earlier this month that three-quarters of Tigray's 6 million inhabitants were resorting to "extreme coping tactics" to live, and that hunger was also widespread in neighboring Amhara and Afar.

 

The government and the National Risk Disaster Commission are examining Tigray's requirements, according to Selamawit Kassa, state minister at the Communications Ministry, but no relief has been delivered so far. According to her, the government and humanitarian organisations will distribute aid under the cease-fire.

 

On Monday, the World Food Programme praised the cease-fire and said it is ready to help impacted people in northern Ethiopia as soon as all parties ensure safe and unhindered access.