The United Nations (UN) has called upon the authorities in Ethiopia to ensure safety of the civilians with the army reportedly set to go up against the rebel forces in the capital of Northern Ethiopia Tigray.
On Sunday, the country’s prime Minister Abiy Ahmed gave the rebel group in the northern region a 72 hour deadline or risk facing the full force of the army.
The Ethiopian army stated that it would encircle the region the region and attack the region if they did not surrender.
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) say that they remain very committed to fight for what they believe is right.
The conflict has reportedly killed hundreds and displaced thousands in recent weeks and now the International body has warned it could trigger a humanitarian crisis.
The authorities have to guarantee the safety of aid workers and civilians, Catherine Sozi, the international humanitarian coordinator for Ethiopia, told news agency Reuters.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch Executive Director Kenneth Roth said that “Ethiopia has a duty to spare from harm even those who stay in Mekelle, not just threaten that ‘there will be no mercy’.”
On Sunday an Ethiopian army spokesman told residents of the city to “save themselves” before an offensive in the city began.
What Attempts Are being Made to bring to an end of the Crisis at Tigray in Ethiopia?
Last Friday, the chairman of the African Union South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that they had appointed three former presidents to try and broker a deal in the region.
This was however met with resistance from the Ethiopian government who say that this is an internal matter and that they as a country will be negotiating with criminals.
“We don’t negotiate with criminals… We bring them to justice, not to the negotiating table,” Mamo Mihretu, a senior aide to Mr Abiy, told the BBC
“Our African brothers and sisters would play a more significant role if they put pressure on TPLF to surrender and for that, you know, nobody needs to go to Tigray or Mekelle to make that point clear to them.”
Mr Mamo said that former leaders from Mozambique, Liberia, and South Africa – who are due to arrive in the country in the coming days – would not be able to visit Tigray because of the ongoing military operation.
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Author: Moses Echodu
Moses is an avid Sports and Tech enthusiast. He loves to keep up to date with all the latest information and research on some of the most compelling stories.
