The president of Tigray rejected Monday, November 23 the ultimatum launched the day before by the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to the leaders of this dissident region of Ethiopia who gave them 72 hours to surrender.

Almost three weeks after the start of a military operation aimed at reestablishing its authority over this region of northern Ethiopia, the federal power plans to "surround" soon Mekele, capital of Tigray and seat of the local government resulting from the Front. Liberation of the People of Tigray (TPLF), which he wants to replace by "legitimate authorities".

Ten days ago, Abiy Ahmed issued a first ultimatum to the Tigrayan fighters, calling on them to defect and join the federal army.

A few days later, he announced that the military intervention in Tigray, launched on November 4, was entering its "final phase".

"How many times has (Abiy Ahmed) said three days? He does not understand who we are. We are a people of principles and ready to die to defend our right to administer our region," said Monday to l 'AFP the president of Tigray and head of the TPLF, Debretsion Gebremichael.

"This is to camouflage the defeat that (the Ethiopian soldiers) suffered today on three fronts. In order to have time to regroup," he added, without specifying which fronts he is on. was acting.

Refugees

The TPLF also announced, via its official news agency, Tigray Mass Media Agency, that it fired rockets at Bahir Dar airport, capital of the neighboring Amhara region, on Monday.

This is the third time that this airport has been targeted by attacks by the TPLF, which claims it is used by Ethiopian aircraft bombing Tigray.

On Monday, two residents of Bahir Dar told AFP they heard rockets fall.

“Three rockets fell on the city near the airport area. We don't know if there were any casualties or damage,” one said.

Verification on the ground and from an independent source of the assertions of both sides is very difficult, as Tigray has been virtually cut off from the world since the start of the conflict.

No precise record of the fighting, which killed at least hundreds of people, is also available.

More than 40,000 Ethiopian refugees have arrived in Sudan since November 10, fleeing the offensive by government forces against Tigray, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Monday.

security Council

Calling for a rapid de-escalation of the conflict, the international community has launched several attempts at mediation.

The African Union (AU), in particular, has appointed special envoys the former Mozambican presidents Joaquim Chissano, Liberian Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and South African Kgalema Motlanthe.

On Monday, the spokesperson for the government crisis unit for Tigray, Redwan Hussein, declined in substance this mediation, but indicated that the government "would speak with these envoys out of respect for (...) African leaders".

"There could be several scenarios in which the issue of lasting peace could be discussed, but not with" the TPLF, said Redwan Hussein.

The UN Security Council will hold its first meeting on the Tigray war on Tuesday, at the request of South Africa, Niger, Tunisia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, he said. - we learned Monday from diplomatic sources.

This virtual meeting will be held in camera.

With AFP

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