In the course of their fighting with Ethiopian government troops, rebels from the Ethiopian conflict region Tigray also attacked facilities in neighboring Eritrea with rockets. The target of the attacks was the airport of the capital Asmara, informed the head of the People’s Liberation Front of Tigray (TPLF), Debretsion Gebremichael, today the dpa by phone. Air strikes on the TPLF would be carried out from the airport.
The TPLF dominates the government in Tigray. „We have been fighting the Ethiopian armed forces for a few days,“ said Gebremichael. The Eritrean armed forces fought alongside the Ethiopians, who had escalated the conflict with the use of Asmara airport. „So Asmara is a legitimate target.“
The TPLF is ready to negotiate, but first the government must withdraw its troops from Tigray. “The people are ready to fight, with sticks if necessary,” said Gebremichael.
Aid organizations warn of a humanitarian crisis
After months of tension between Addis Ababa and the TPLF, the Ethiopian government had launched an offensive against the militia and ruling party of Tigray. Little is known about the situation in the region as the internet, telephone connections and electricity are cut and roads are blocked. Access has been restricted for journalists.
Aid organizations are warning of a humanitarian crisis. Government information can hardly be verified independently. In official announcements, Ethiopia does not mention Eritrea, speaks of the liberation of territories and accuses the TPLF of crimes against humanity.
The TPLF was the dominant party in the coalition that ruled Ethiopia with a hard hand for more than 25 years. That changed when Abiy Ahmed came to power in 2018: the prime minister launched reforms, removed old guard officials and founded a new party that the TPLF did not join.
The TPLF and many people in Tigray feel they are not represented by the central government and would like greater autonomy. Under Abiy, who received the Nobel Peace Prize last year, ethnic tensions and conflicts have increased in the multi-ethnic state of Ethiopia with around 112 million inhabitants.
