Ethiopia: Tigray rebel forces still present in Afar despite denials

2022-05-06T21:48:41.078Z

In Ethiopia, rebel forces from Tigray occupied part of the Afar region in the north of the country for almost three months. They assured that they withdrew from Afar at the end of April, so that humanitarian aid…

Ethiopia: Tigray rebel forces still present in Afar despite denials

Audio 01:23

Aliyu Muhammad Musa, an Afar militiaman, stands in front of the premises of the Konnaba municipality, destroyed by Tigrayan insurgents, on May 5, 2022. © Noé Hochet-Bodin / RFI

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

In Ethiopia, rebel forces from Tigray occupied part of the Afar region in the north of the country for almost three months.

They assured that they withdrew from Afar at the end of April, so that humanitarian aid could pass through this same region.

However, in northern Afar, the rebel forces of Tigray are in reality still present in certain districts of the region, which are difficult to access.

With our special correspondent in Konnaba,

Noé Hochet-Bodin

Aliyu Muhammad Musa never leaves his Kalashnikov.

From his town of Konnaba, this militiaman sees the top of the mountain, about ten kilometers away, where the TPLF rebels are still positioned.

We are ready to defend the territory

," he said.

I'm on high alert, I'm patrolling.
We will defend ourselves, even with our simple rifles.

Despite the official announcement of their withdrawal, the Tigrayan insurgents still control 4 districts in this area where Mohammed Idriss is an administrator.

Already, when they came in January, they never admitted having invaded us

," said the administrator.

Now they say they are completely gone, but again they are lying.
They say that because it is in their interest.

Impossible return of the displaced

The presence of Tigrayan forces, and the permanent threat it poses, prevent citizens from returning to invest their homes.

Mohammed Abdallah, 25, used to sell fuel.

We cannot hope for a return to normal because there is no total peace.
These people are always near us in the mountains.
At any time, they can start to invade us again.
We are waiting for a real ceasefire to come back completely.

At the same time, World Food Program (WFP) convoys continue to supply Tigray with food.

The TPLF invasion displaced more than 330,000 people in three months, according to the United Nations.

►

To read also: The populations of Afar denounce the atrocities committed by the TPLF

Ethiopia: Tigray rebel forces still present in Afar despite denials

Ethiopia: Tigray rebel forces still present in Afar despite denials

Impossible return of the displaced

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest