Interim Administration in Tigray Region of Ethiopia Sees Involvement of “External Forces,” Possibly Indicating Eritrea
Borkena
Toronto – A day after Getachew Reda suspended three military generals supporting the TPLF faction under Debretsion Gebremichael, there are indications of military clashes in multiple areas of the Tigray region.
Many civlian casualties have been reported in Dega Hamus and parts of Mekelle as the faction under Debretsion launches a military action.
Getachew Reda, President of the Tigray Region Interim Administration, announced about an hour ago that a “cabal of few army officers” is taking “the law into their hands and dismantle state structures throughout Tigray the last few days has plunged the region into an uncharted territory.”
Reports from local sources indicate that Debretsion’s faction, under the command of General Masho Beyene, has taken control of the Adigrat city administration. The administrative offices in the city are now under the control of Debretsion’s forces. However, it remains unclear whether members of the Interim Administration in the city were arrested or killed.
Getachew Reda has reported, on Tuesday, casualties in Mekelle and Adigudom. He stated, “…Many casualties in Adigudom and parts of Mekelle. The rampage is part of a harebrained plan to install an illegal faction of TPLF into the position of power, a move that flies full in the face of the aspirations of the people of Tigray and if the Pretoria Agreement.” He called upon stakeholders of the Pretoria Agreement to address the situation.
Getachew also claimed that “external forces” (likely a reference to Eritrean forces) are involved in connection with the actions of the Debretsion faction in Adigrat and other parts of the Tigray region. He wrote on his social media page, “There is every reason to believe external forces are trying to take advantage of this crisis to stock up more violence throughout the region and beyond.”
Unconfirmed reports on social media suggest that Getachew Reda and members of his administration are encircled in Mekelle.
On Thursday, General Tsadkan Gebretensae, former Ethiopian Defense Chief of Staff and supporter of Getachew Reda’s Interim Administration in Tigray, published a article on “Africa Report” in which he said, “war between Ethiopia and Eritrea could break out any moment.” Although there have been accusations that the military generals supporting the Debretsion faction (who were also allegedly involved in illegal gold trade via Eritrea) have been clandestinely meeting with the Eritrean government in connection with the crisis in Tigray, the generals have denied these allegations.
The Federal Government under Abiy Ahmed has not yet commented on the situation unfolding in the Tigray region.
Meanwhile, voices on social media claim that the part of Tigray- particularly in the east – supporting the Interim Government is being targeted in the TPLF’s faction under Debretsion latest attack, with some alleging Eritrean involvement.
There have also been reports of drone surveys in Mekelle and the surrounding area, but Getachew has reportedly said he has no knowledge of it.
