Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed has announced the launching of the “final phase” of the army’s operation in Tigray with an attack on the regional capital, Mekelle.
The announcement comes after the Tigray fighters failed to meet the deadline set by PM Abiy to surrender.
Mr. Abiy has ordered the Ethiopian military to launch an offensive on Mekelle – a city of about 500,000 people – in the “third and final phase” of the federal government’s military campaign against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.
He said the military would try not to harm civilians and urged people in the city to stay at home. He urged people in Mekelle and the surrounding areas to disarm, stay at home and away from military targets.
Mr. Abiy said “great care would be taken to protect civilians and all efforts would be made to limit damage to Mekelle.”
He has also affirmed that religious and historical sites, institutions and residential areas would not be targeted.
The leader of the powerful regional party TPLF, Debretsion Gebremichael, has reacted to the PM Abiy’s announcement with resolute saying that “Tigray forces are ready to die in defence of our right to administer our region”.
The TPLF fighters number about 250,000. They are drawn mostly from a paramilitary unit and a well-drilled local militia. Some analysts fear that it could turn into a guerrilla conflict.
Hundreds of people have reportedly been killed and thousands have been forced from their homes as Ethiopian forces have seized various towns in Tigray from the TPLF.
However, details of the fighting are hard to confirm because all phone, mobile and internet communications with the Tigray region have been cut.
The members of the party have vowed to keep fighting.
It is reported that Three African Union representatives arrived in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to try and broker talks but Ethiopia has so far rejected all mediation attempts, saying the conflict is an internal matter and Mr. Abiy’s government is engaged in a law enforcement mission in Tigray.
The three envoys will not be allowed to travel to Tigray.
Aid groups have expressed fear that the conflict could trigger a humanitarian crisis and disrupt the Horn of Africa region.
The United Nations have equally expressed alarm at the prospect of major hostilities if the Ethiopian army attacks Mekelle, and warned of potential war crimes.
