Tigray conflict in Ethiopia: the noose tightens around the city of Mekele
The capital of the Ethiopian province of Tigray, Mekele, on January 25, 2018 (Photo illustration).
Wikimedia Commons Copyleft A. Savin
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
In Ethiopia, the conflict continues in the province of Tigray, still cut off from the world since the fighting began on November 4.
The federal army says it is advancing towards the dissident regional capital, Mekele, and is preparing to invade it.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed gave the TPLF, the party that runs the region, three days to surrender, and the army warned the townspeople, prompting a UN warning.
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The martial language used by the spokesperson for the Ethiopian army caused concern.
"
We want to send a message to the people of
Mekele
," Colonel Dereje Tsegaye said during a press briefing on Sunday 22 November.
Save yourself from artillery attacks and free yourself from the junta
”of the TPLF [Front for the Liberation of the People of Tigray].
"
After which, there will be no mercy
".
In fact, according to several sources, leaflets had been dropped over the city the day before by federal army helicopters.
With the agency
Reuters
, the humanitarian coordinator of the UN in Ethiopia, Catherine Sozi, was immediately worried about "
the protection of the 525
000
civilians living in Mekele
" asking that of "
all the infrastructure such as health facilities , schools, the water distribution system
”, vital for the inhabitants.
War crime
Laetitia Bader, the director of Human Rights Watch for the Horn of Africa, also warned.
"
Treating an entire city as a military target would not only be illegal
, she replied on Twitter,
but could also be considered a form of collective punishment
", that is to say a war crime.
#Ethiopian military spokesman threatens residents in # Tigray's capital w / artillery fire if they don't "save themselves" first.
Treating a whole city as a military target would not only unlawful, it could also be considered a form of collective punishment https://t.co/LEVRTgKNPf
- Laetitia Bader (@LaetitiaBader) November 22, 2020
In the evening, the Ethiopian government tried to clarify its intentions.
The army said the colonel was referring only to TPLF leaders.
And a long text signed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was published by a government agency.
He assured that "
all necessary precautionary measures have been taken to ensure that civilians are not injured
."
He gave the TPLF 72 hours to surrender
, that is to say by Wednesday, November 25.
► To read also: Ethiopia: the government announces the capture of Alamata on the road to Mekele
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