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In a stunning turn of events after a months-long war, Tigrayan forces on Monday overtook the region’s capital Mekelle after Ethiopian forces fled the city, reports said.
“They invaded us. Abiy is a liar and a dictator, but he is defeated already,” one person celebrating in the streets told The New York Times. “Tigray will be an independent country.”
The Ethiopian government, under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, called for a unilateral cease-fire. Tigray forces did not accept the offer.
“People are celebrating, the capital has been liberated from our enemies, but as far as I am concerned there is little to celebrate because we still have fighting to do,” Getachew Reda, a spokesman for the regional government of Tigray, told CNN.
The Times reported that the Tigray People’s Liberation Front has been on the offensive over the past week and staged an effective counterattack. Their military had gained ground lost to Ethiopian and Eritrean forces in a war that was launched last November by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia northern Tigray region. These fighters reportedly captured thousands of Ethiopian soldiers.
The “Government of the National State of Tigray” announced its “stunning victory” on Monday and said the city was in complete control of “the Tigray Defense Forces.”
The BBC reported that Abiy framed the retreat as a “humanitarian” gesture, but analysts say that his government is just trying to stave off embarrassment.
As we reported last week, Ethiopian forces bombed a bustling market, which was followed by Tigray militia downing of a C-130 military transport plane.
We have also reported that Abiy’s aggression in Tigray has led to unfathomable conditions for those living there. Thousands have been killed, about 2 million have been displaced, and the region is experiencing its worst famine in a decade.
The stated reason for Abiy’s government launching the major offense against the Tigray’s was because they held an election in September in violation of a countrywide voting ban due to the virus outbreak. He blamed Tigray leadership for violating “the constitution and endangering the constitutional system.”
The Trends Journal has been reporting on the conflict for months. (SEE: “ETHIOPIA AND SUDAN: TENSIONS RISING,” “ANOTHER ETHNIC MASSACRE IN ETHIOPIA.”)
The airstrike on the market in Togoga was one of the deadliest assaults in the conflict. A United Nations official in the country told the paper that roughly 80 people were killed and 43 injured in the bombing. Those injured were rushed to Ayder hospital in Mekele, the regional capital, for treatment. Doctors were told that the bomb was dropped from a plane, The Associated Press reported.
The AP reported that young children were among the injured. A 2-year-old suffered extensive abdominal trauma and a baby died on the way to the hospital, which is about 37 miles from the site of the bombing. Witnesses said it was unclear if the bomb was dropped by Ethiopian bombers or planes dispatched from Eritrea.
Ethiopia said only rebels were killed in the airstrike.
“We do not accept that this operation targeted civilians,” Col. Getnet Adane said, according to Al Jazeera. He said rebels have been known to wear civilian clothing.
Reda told Reuters by satellite phone that the primary goal now is “to degrade enemy fighting capabilities.”
“So if going to Amhara is what it takes, we will do it, if going to Eritrea is what it takes, we’ll do it,” he said.