ICERAS

ackground

The armed conflict which began late 3 November 2020 in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region, and the subsequent military offensive ordered by the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Ethiopian Defense Forces (EDF) against the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), continues unabated. On 7 November, the Ethiopian Parliament voted to dissolve the Government of the Tigray Region. Over the past three weeks, the conflict has also been reported across the region, more recently in the Eastern part of the region and the regional capital, Mekelle, as well as affecting the town of Shire and its environs in Northern Tigray.

On 21 November, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity of African Union Chairperson, appointed three Special Envoys to Ethiopia to help mediate between the parties to conflict. Ethiopia, however, rejected the offer, considering it an internal law enforcement mission.

On 23 November, the United Nations’ humanitarian coordinator for Ethiopia, Catherine Sozi, urged safety guarantees for aid workers, Mekelle’s more than half a million inhabitants, and their health, school and water systems. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet urged the parties to the conflict in Tigray to give clear and unambiguous ordersto their forces to take constant care to spare and protect the civilian population from the effect of the hostilities. The United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres also released a statement, which urged the leaders of Ethiopia to do everything possible to protect civilians, uphold human rights and ensure humanitarian access for the provision of much-needed assistance.

On 22 November, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed urged the Tigray forces to surrender within 72 hours, as EDF forces advanced towards Mekelle. A few hours after the ultimatum expired, on 26 November, The Prime Minister announced the Ethiopian military would begin the “final phase” of an offensive into the Tigray Region. readmore