Abiy Ahmed: Why I removed ENDF from Tigray
ADDIS-ABABA | For the first time after the withdrawal of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces [ENDF] Originally from the rebel region of Tigray, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed explained in detail the reasons for his actions, despite conflicting information.
In a televised statement Wednesday, Ahmed said his administration declared a ceasefire in the Tigray region to “focus on other national priorities”, adding that the decision to leave Mekelle was taken to “avoid a scenario where the army considers the people as an enemy “.
A unilateral ceasefire was declared on Monday and was then followed by the withdrawal of ENDF troops and those from Eritrea. However, the Tigray Defense Forces [TDF] insisted that he had crushed the army and taken control of all the territories occupied by the federal government.
Earlier, a joint Foreign Ministry and ENDF spokesperson noted that the decision to withdraw from Tigray was motivated by “an attempt to address the main concerns of the international community regarding the cessation of hostilities, unimpeded to the region and the withdrawal of Eritrean troops. “
And Abiy Ahmed, whose administration has fought against ethnic violence and secessionist movements, said the government spent nearly $ 2.2 million on the Tigray War “outside the military budget” and a little more than Tigray’s annual budget, straining operations.
“All we got in return was to be accused of creating hunger, of allowing Eritrean troops, of cutting communications and of obstructing humanitarian access,” he said. he declares.
The nature of the conflict, he noted, has changed over time, claiming that what started with a conventional army turned into a dispersed insurgency after the army completed its operations in three weeks, as of November 2020.
Over time, he said, members of the military were even attacked by civilians while in some cases faced hostility even from priests who were seen “holding arms. fire”. The ENDF was suing TDF, which the government qualifies as “terrorist” …
“This sentiment has permeated the majority of members of the military,” the prime minister said. “They started to see everyone they saw as enemies.”
“Priests were seen holding guns and persuading people to take up guns,” he said, further explaining how cemeteries were used to store guns. He also accused civilians of sharing food aid with the armed group. He said the people who have been seen celebrating Mekelle’s takeover are fighters waiting for a chance to attack.
According to the Prime Minister, the ENDF did not intend to occupy Mekelle, the regional administrative capital of Tigray, which was the center of the conflict. For him, the city housed the government and had immense resources, unworthy of being destroyed.
“Mekelle, from a military point of view, is no longer a gravitational center,” the prime minister said, adding: “The city is no more important than that of Abiadi, Shiraro or Beshasha.” He stressed the need for the media to set the record straight and steer clear of “enemy narratives”.
The Prime Minister warned TDF against the occupation of Western Tigray, which the Amhara predominantly occupy. Amhara regional forces were implicated in the Tigray genocide, which necessitated a factual statement from TDF alluding to plans to expel the Amhara from western Tigray.
“The people of Armachiho, Wolkayit and Tsegede have shown resilience in the face of challenges over the past 30 years while identifying themselves as Ethiopians and the people of Bege Midir.
“We have chosen to step back and give the Tigrayans a period of reflection. He said, adding: “We have withdrawn our missiles and our weapons from the region. The threats of last year no longer exist. He concluded by swearing that no one will defeat the Ethiopians and by being Ethiopian.
Through the lieutenant, General Bacha Debele and Minister of State Rediwan Hussien had declared that the withdrawal of the ENDF should give access to humanitarian teams in the Tigray region. However, they warned that the army would return to Tigray if “necessary” at any time.
In addition, the ambassador said that the ceasefire “would help the people of Tigray to reflect on the pros and cons of colluding with a terrorist group to combat Ethiopian troops providing protection and humanitarian aid in the region. “.
“The government declared the ceasefire because the Ethiopian army was not ready to exchange gunfire with the inhabitants of Tigray who were misled by the ethnically charged propaganda of the TPLF,” said Redawan, urging the international community to step up humanitarian assistance to the people of Tigray and to pay attention to TPLF threats to launch attacks against the Amhara region and Eritrea.
General Bacha Debele, for his part, said: “Mekelle has ceased to be the center of gravity capable of posing a threat to the nation and the federal government. He refuted claims that the ENDF was expelled from Mekelle by Tigrayan forces, saying: “The group was defeated in a rapid three-week conventional war while armed to the teeth, but now its military, administrative and organizational structure is destroyed.
TDF warned against a systematic war against the “enemies”, arguing that they “will pursue them anywhere for the good of the people of Tigray”. The team recaptured several towns it had lost in November last year following clashes with the national army and Eritrea.
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