Ethiopia officially declares itself at war against Tigray forces

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on January 12, 2020 in Pretoria, South Africa.

Themba Hadebe / AP Photo

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2 min

The province of Tigray is located in northern Ethiopia, on the border with Eritrea.

The offensive was launched by the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, on the night of Tuesday 3 to Wednesday 4 November, to regain control of the province which wishes to secede.

An offensive that he intends to continue.

All communications are still cut with Tigray.

Difficult, for the moment, to establish an assessment of the fights.

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With our correspondent in Addis Ababa,

It is indeed difficult to know the extent of the losses on both sides.

It is also difficult to see clearly on the exact course of the fighting, because of the cut in communications.

What we do know, however, is that the clashes mainly take place along the border between the provinces of Tigray and Amhara, 400 kilometers long, with heavy fighting, especially near the Sudanese border.

► To read also: Conflict in Tigray: what are the forces involved?

Generals retired, war machines captured by the Tigrayan government

In the afternoon of Thursday, November 5, planes were heard in the Tigrayan sky.

Different sources report bombing, without knowing the exact target.

Some speak of Mekele, the provincial capital, others speak of military positions of the TPLF party (Front for the Liberation of the People of Tigray), on the outskirts of Mekele. 

Troop movements have also been observed from various Ethiopian regions to reinforce the federal contingent on the outskirts of Tigray.

In addition, three former generals were asked to come out of retirement on Wednesday to come and help the national army. 

In Mekele, the Tigrayan government claimed to have seized artillery pieces and tanks belonging to the division stationed in the city.

" 

 ," said the president of the province.

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• Ethiopia

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