Conflict in Ethiopia: the power multiplies the accusations of complicity with the Tigrayan forces
Ethiopian soldiers on the road leading to the border with Tigray.
AP
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
In Ethiopia, the government continues at all costs its operation against the TPLF, in power in Tigray (north).
An operation which would have entered, according to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, in its final phase.
At the same time, the federal authorities are increasing the number of arrests.
Many accuse the power of ethnic repression against the Tigrayans.
Addis Ababa denies it.
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The Ethiopian police continue their raids.
Authorities say they have arrested 287 people suspected of having links with the Tigray People's Liberation Front.
Addis Ababa specifies that it seized weapons in passing.
At the same time, the federal government issued an arrest warrant against 76 soldiers.
These major-generals, colonels or captains, some of whom would be retired, are accused of having "
conspired with the TPLF with the aim of committing treason
".
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See also: Report - Ethiopia: thousands of refugees flock to Sudan to flee the fighting in Tigray
Among them, Colonel Gebregziabher Alemseged who was at the head of the Ethiopian troops when they entered Somalia in 2006. He was replaced two years later when he was accused of abuses.
These men appear to be at least partly Tigrayans, and would be involved in the attack on a federal command which had started the conflict in early November.
The army attacks the boss of the WHO
Finally, the Chief of Staff bluntly accused the Director General of the WHO of supporting the Tigrayan party and in particular of helping it obtain weapons.
“
He worked with them.
He is part of their group,
”General Berhanu Jula said.
Tedros Ghebreyesus is also Tigrayan.
However, the government refutes any ethnic bias.
Billene Seyoum, spokesperson for the prime minister, denied that people were targeted because of their tribal affiliation.
She talks about belonging to criminal networks.
On the ground, the fighting continues.
The government says it took Axum and Shire.
The president of Tigray simply acknowledged the loss of Shire, his hometown, by speaking of a "
temporary victory
"
for federal forces.
The latter would continue to march towards the capital of Tigray.
The soldiers would now be less than 200 km from Mekelle.
►
To read also: Ethiopia: the offensive in Tigray enters its "final" phase, announces the Prime Minister
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