Ethiopia: at the UN, Western countries denounce the presence of the Eritrean army in Tigray

A shepherd walks past an abandoned Tigray Armed Forces tank near Mehoni, Ethiopia, December 11, 2020. EDUARDO SOTERAS AFP / Archivos

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In Ethiopia, the presence of the Eritrean army in Tigray is no longer in doubt for European countries and the United States.

It was with one voice that they denounced it on Wednesday, before the United Nations Human Rights Council, while Ethiopia, for its part, continues to deny it officially.

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There was talk, as every year, of Eritrea, Wednesday in Geneva.

It was also the first public meeting of the new UN special rapporteur on human rights in the country, the Sudanese Mohamed Abiker.

In his presentation, the latter regretted the lack of cooperation from Eritrea, the lack of progress in the country, and pledged to adopt a new constructive approach with Asmara.

But he also took a clear stance on the presence of the Eritrean army and its

participation in the war in Tigray

, which Eritrea and Ethiopia, however, continue to deny.

"

 Thanks to my investigations, my collection of information, my meetings with witnesses from Tigray and refugees in Sudan, I have credible information indicating that the Eritrean forces are indeed operating in the region

," said the diplomat. 

I also have credible evidence of the total destruction of the two refugee camps of Hitsats and Shimelba.

And I also have evidence - which will appear in my next report

 -

on the abductions of refugees living in these camps and their incarceration in specific prisons in Eritrea.

I believe that it is important for

[the country]

to cooperate and withdraw its troops from the Tigray region.

 "

Western chancelleries were in tune.

In their statements, all the European ambassadors - that of the EU, France, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany -, as well as the British and American, have clearly called for " 

the withdrawal of Eritrean troops

 " from Ethiopia. 

On Wednesday, the deputy head of the interim administration of Tigray, Muluberhan Haile, in

an interview

with the state news agency, warned " 

those overseas media that are harming

 " the Ethiopian people: " 

One line red should be drawn,

he said

, to put limits on irresponsible bodies that pursue political gain at the cost of our peace

.

"

For him, if Eritreans are guilty of crimes in Tigray, they are “ 

burglars 

” escaped from refugee camps or criminals released by the TPLF at the start of the conflict.

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• Ethiopia

• Eritrea

• UN