Ethiopia PM admits Eritrean troops were in Tigray
It’s the first time that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed confirmed Eritrean forces were present during the conflict in Tigray. He also admitted that rape and other atrocities were committed during the fighting.
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed admitted that foreign troops were involved in the conflict in Tigray
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed confirmed on Tuesday that troops from Eritrea were involved in fighting in northern Tigray.
It’s the first official acknowledgement of neighboring Eritrea’s involvement in the conflict, coming after months of denials and reports of human rights abuses.
What did Abiy say about Eritrean troops?
In a wide-ranging parliamentary address, Abiy said that Eritrean troops crossed the border into northern Tigray after fighting broke out in November last year.
The prime minister said Eritrea was concerned it would be attacked by forces loyal to the then-governing party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). The party has long been at odds with Eritrea.
Anger and collective trauma scar Ethiopia’s Tigray region (DW)
The conflict in Tigray, the northern region of Ethiopia, has mostly been unfolding under a media blackout since early November. Thousands of civilians have likely died as a result of the crisis.