We have been reporting in the Trends Journal on the escalating civil war in Ethiopia that was launched by its Nobel Peace prize-winning Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed against the leaders of the Tigray Region. (See our 10 November article, “ANOTHER NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER GOES TO WAR” and our 17 November article, “ETHIOPIA/TIGRAY CONFLICT INTENSIFIES, ROCKETS HIT ERITREA.”)
Ethiopia said they have now seized control of Mekelle, Tigray’s regional capital, after weeks of clashes with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.
While Ahmed warned the capital to be prepared for the onslaught and celebrated the victory in a statement that forces entered the city “without innocent civilians being targets,” the Tigray government said the city was “heavily bombarded,” according to the Associated Press.
Before the offensive, Ahmed said his forces would show “no mercy” when moving to take over the city. But he now claims the “overall safety and well-being of the people of Tigray” was his top priority.
Colonel Dejene Tsegaye, a spokesman for the military, told a local station that the attack on Mekelle, a city with 500,000, will be a “decisive part of the operation.” He said forces will encircle the city with tanks.
News agencies have reported it has been difficult to receive updates from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front because phone and internet connectivity has been affected during the conflict.
It is also reported that some 40,000 people in the war-torn region have left the country and are seeking shelter in neighboring Sudan.
TREND FORECAST: As we have forecast, the heavily armed Tigray forces will not surrender to Ethiopian forces, thus military tensions will persist.
With its economy sinking deeper into the “Greatest Depression,” social unrest, violence, and poverty will escalate, which in turn will ramp up a refugee crisis, many of whom will want to escape to Europe and safer havens.
