Ethiopia denies the use of chemical weapons in the Tigray War
ADDIS ABEBA – The Ethiopian federal government has denied reports that Ethiopia’s national defense force [ENDF] used chemical weapons in the Tigray region, where the National Army has led operations against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front [TPLF].
A report published by the Telegraph through Will Brown, the correspondent in East Africa, indicated that the army has ruled out terror against civilians by using weapons of mass destruction, some of which are banned by the UN.
Some exclusive images of women and children burned with what looked like phosphorus were published by the leading newspapers, in what shows a glimpse of mass human rights abuses in Tigray, a region that houses separatists in Ethiopia.
But in a statement, the Foreign Ministry accused the Telegraph of leading “smear campaigns”, claiming that the country has never used such weapons inside and outside Ethiopia, adding that Addis Ababa respects international treaties.
“The ministry categorically rejects the allegations. Ethiopia has not hired and will never use banned ammunition because it takes its international obligations very seriously. Ethiopia also strongly condemns the use of chemical weapons elsewhere,” the statement read.
“The ministry has already warned the international community about the publication of such a damaging and irresponsible report which is part of the drive for further tensions,” the ministry said, adding that the report lacked evidence.
The ENDF and Eritrean troops have been pursuing TPLF fighters, but several reports indicate that thousands of civilians have been killed in the war. Calls for Eritrean troops to withdraw from Tigray have been called, but preliminary reports suggest they remain.
On Sunday, Foreign Minister Antony Blinken issued travel restrictions to named individuals in the Eritrean conflict and called on other countries to follow suit. The Ethiopian government under Abiy Ahmed is under increasing pressure to respect human rights in the country.
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