The calls for mediation and the protection of the civilian populations of Tigray were made more urgent Tuesday, November 24, on the eve of the expiration of the ultimatum given by the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to the leaders of the dissident region to surrender .

The "military operation" launched on November 4 by the Ethiopian federal power against the authorities in Tigray, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), has entered a decisive phase, according to Addis Ababa.

The federal power assures to be able to launch the battle of Mekele, the capital of the region, in order to dislodge the leaders of the TPLF and to replace them by a new administration.

The prospect of an assault on Mekele, which has 500,000 inhabitants, in addition to an unknown number of displaced people who have taken refuge there since the start of the conflict, worries the international community and human rights organizations.

"War crime"

"As Ethiopian federal troops begin their preparations to surround Mekele, Amnesty International reminds all parties that deliberate attacking of civilians (...) is prohibited by international humanitarian law and constitutes a war crime," Deprose said. Muchena, responsible for Eastern and Southern Africa for the organization.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, expressed concern on Tuesday at "the highly aggressive rhetoric" on both sides, fearing that it "would lead to further violations of international humanitarian law".

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs called on parties to allow civilians seeking humanitarian assistance to cross international and national borders.

Security Council meeting

At the UN, Europeans and Africans have displayed their divisions.

The first meeting of the Security Council on the conflict held on Tuesday was initially canceled at the request of African countries, to give more time to AU mediation.

But the European members of the Council - Belgium, Germany, France, Estonia, United Kingdom - supported by the United States, announced that the meeting would go well: "At some point, we have to put (the Ethiopian file) to the agenda, even if it does not please Africans, "said a European diplomat on condition of anonymity.

The meeting did take place, without however giving rise to a joint declaration.

"The Europeans have expressed their concerns, condemned ethnic violence and demanded the protection of civilians," said a European diplomat.

Asked about the hesitations that seem to dominate the Security Council over the Tigray conflict, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stressed that the African Union was at the forefront of international efforts and that the Secretary General of UN Antonio Guterres supported this approach.

The latter underlined his concern over a possible military offensive in the regional capital of Mekele.

The secretary-general "urges the leaders of Ethiopia to do everything possible to protect civilians, respect human rights and ensure humanitarian access" to the populations, a statement said.

With AFP

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