Ethiopia: new offensive by government troops against Tigrayan rebels
Ethiopian soldiers on patrol.
(Illustrative image) PETER DELARUE / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
Are we witnessing a new large-scale offensive in northern Ethiopia?
This weekend, many artillery barrages and troop movements were observed around the province of Tigray, at war for a year.
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With our correspondent in Addis Ababa
,
Noé Hochet-Bodin
Three months after the region was taken over by the Tigrayan rebels, it appears that the government and its allies are mobilizing their forces to regain control.
Major military operations were expected at the end of the rainy season in
Ethiopia
.
Season that is just about to end.
And as announced, the fighting resumed.
In the form of numerous artillery fire and drone airstrikes, according to the spokesperson for the Tigrayan rebels of the TPLF.
For its part, the government declined to comment on the latest operations.
Concern on the ground
Tigrayan soldiers invaded territories in the neighboring Amhara region last July, and it appears that current maneuvers are aimed at liberating these towns. But
barely invested for a second term
, Abiy Ahmed could also want to completely regain control of Tigray and hunt down its leaders, as he had done last November. For this, it has recruited tens of thousands of fighters in recent months and has acquired drones, particularly from Turkey, assures a diplomatic source.
A new offensive raises fears of the worst on the pitch.
First, because the war has already been marked by numerous atrocities and 400,000 people have already crossed the threshold of famine in Tigray.
Often described as isolated on the international scene,
Abiy Ahmed
, appointed prime minister last Monday, was greeted by China and Russia.
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Ethiopia
Abiy Ahmed