NAIROBI – Eritrean forces have begun withdrawing from Ethiopia’s Tigray region in the north, the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry said.
The United States, Germany, France and other G7 countries on Friday called for a swift, unconditional and controllable withdrawal of Eritrean soldiers, followed by a political process acceptable to all Ethiopians.
In a rejoinder posted late Saturday through the Foreign Ministry, Ethiopia said the G7 foreign minister’s statement had not recognized important steps taken to meet the region’s needs.
“The Eritrean troops who had crossed the border when provoked by the TPLF have now begun to evacuate and the Ethiopian National Defense Forces have taken over the guarding of the national border,” it said in a statement.
Fighting broke out in Tigray in early November after forces loyal to the then ruling party that – the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) – attacked army bases throughout the region. In late November, federal troops expelled TPLF from the capital, Mekelle, and the Ethiopian government declared victory.
Thousands of people died in the conflict, hundreds of thousands have been forced from their homes and there is a shortage of food, water and medicine in the region. The government says most fighting has ceased, but there are still isolated incidents of shootings.
Full access to the region has now been given to humanitarian organizations, the State Department said, adding that a joint investigation with external experts into alleged human rights violations will soon begin.
“While the government … honesty appreciates the concerns expressed, it has already been too clear that the provision of food and drug aid should be the core of expressions of concern,” the ministry said.
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