Tigray s former rulers back in Mekelle, Ethiopian government declares ceasefire
Tigray s former rulers back in Mekelle, Ethiopian government declares ceasefire
Ethiopia s government said it was declaring a ceasefire following a request from the interim regional administration in Tigray, which Addis Ababa appointed after ousting TPLF forces.
advertisement
UPDATED: June 29, 2021 05:01 IST
In this May 11, 2021 file photo, a destroyed tank sits by the side of a road leading to Abi Adi, in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia. (Photo: AP)
The former rulers of Ethiopia s Tigray region said on Monday they were back in control of the regional capital Mekelle after nearly eight months of fighting, and the government which ousted them declared a unilateral ceasefire with immediate effect.
By Giulia Paravicini, Katharine Houreld and Dawit Endeshaw
AMBA GIORGIS, Ethiopia, June 28 (Reuters) - The former rulers of Ethiopia s Tigray region said on Monday they were back in control of the regional capital Mekelle after nearly eight months of fighting, and the government which ousted them declared a unilateral ceasefire with immediate effect.
Residents in downtown Mekelle reported seeing rebel troops in the city for the first time since they were driven out by government forces in November, and several described scenes of jubilation in the streets.
The developments marked a dramatic turn in a conflict that has killed thousands of people, displaced more than 2 million and pushed hundreds of thousands to the brink of famine.
Rebels seize control of Tigray s capital Mekelle from government forces msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
ADDIS ABABA: A Tigrayan media outlet has released a recording of what it said is the ousted leader of Ethiopia’s conflict-hit region, in which he issues a fresh call to arms in what would be his first public statement in nearly two months.
AFP could not independently verify the authenticity of the audio statement from Debretsion Gebremichael which aired on Saturday night via US-based Tigrai Media House.
In November, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered military operations targeting leaders of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the regional ruling party, a move he said came in response to TPLF-orchestrated attacks on federal army camps.