The conflict in the northern part of the country has been going on since November. By the end of three weeks, the federal government had declared victory, but the fighting continued. Leaders of the TPLF’s former power are still free and its armed wing, the TDF (Tigray Defense Force), continues to confront the Ethiopian and Eritrean federal forces in Tigray. Meeting with a TDF cell.
With our special envoy to Ethiopia, Sebastien nemeth
These warriors live among the inhabitants of a remote area of central Tigray. Equipped with AK47s, the rebels are leading an asymmetric war. The head of this cell, Colonel Mabratu, a career soldier, is still convinced to win: “Even if they have tanks, we are ready to fight with bare hands, because we are fighting for our freedom. We make attacks at night. We kill soldiers, “We steal their equipment and reuse it against them. To communicate, we go through the population, because this war is also theirs.”
“Instead of staying home and being massacred, you have to fight”
The rebels unload food and clothing donated by society. According to experts, the seriousness of the crimes reinforced the Tigrayans’ sense of injustice and led to recruitment among civilians. Halami has never been a soldier. “My father was diabetic. Hospital was destroyed, there was a shortage of drugs and he died. All this is planned. To kill the Tigrayans. So many are also participating in the struggle to stay alive. And life here is tough. For example, I have had the same underwear for five months. ”
TDF claims that the resistance is getting better and better and even getting stronger. Biniam, a 37-year-old former official, has just reached out to the bush: “Federal soldiers have arrived. They killed children, elders, mothers. They gathered the inhabitants in houses and lit it. We do not have the choice. Instead of staying home and being slaughtered, you have to fight. ”
According to several experts, the war can still last for months or even years and only a dialogue can end the conflict.
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