Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed admits Eritrean forces are in Tigray
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed admitted on Tuesday that troops from neighboring Eritrea were present in the conflict-ridden Tigray region and suggested they may have been involved in the abuse of civilians.
The shooting comes after months of denials from Addis Ababa and Asmara, and accusations from rights groups and residents claimed Eritrean soldiers had carried out massacres in Tigray.
Abiy sent troops into the northern region of Tigray on November 4 after blaming the region’s once dominant ruling party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), for attacks on army camps.
The military campaign to liberate the TPLF has led to a drawn-out conflict that has seen brutal atrocities committed against civilians.
In a far-reaching speech to parliament, Abiy said that “the Eritrean people and government did a lasting service to our soldiers” during the conflict without giving further details.
“But after the Eritrean army crossed the border and operated in Ethiopia, any damage it did to our people was unacceptable,” he said.
“We do not accept it because it is the Eritrean army and we would not accept it if it were our soldiers. The military campaign was against our clearly targeted enemies, not against the people. We have discussed this four or five times with the Eritrean government. . “
Abiy said that according to the Eritrean government, its soldiers had taken over trenches at the border, which had been dug during the 1998-2000 border war between the two nations after being abandoned by Ethiopian soldiers.
“Eritrea told us it had national security issues and as a result had seized areas at the border,” but had promised to travel if Ethiopian soldiers returned to the trenches.
He said Eritrea was arguing that the TPLF was pushing them to enter the fight “by firing rockets” across the border.
“The Eritrean government has strongly condemned the alleged abuses and has said it will take action against any of its soldiers accused of such.”
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