Ethiopia claims Tigray forces defeated in Afar region; TPLF says 'mere redeployment'

As conflict has spread into Afar region, Ethiopian Federal Government has claimed that Tigrayan forces were defeated in war-hit region. Following defeat, Tigray has withdrawn forces from region, Ethiopian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Dina Mufti said at a presser. Denying claims, Tigray informed that it has "merely redeployed" troops from Afar region to more offensive Amara region.

" Afar Militia has been working in close collaboration with National Defence forces and Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has sustained a lot of losses over past weeks," Ethiopian Prime Ministerial Abiy Ahmed’s Spokesperson Billene Seyoum said at a presser.

According to Al Jazeera, Mufti asserted that TPLF forces "were defeated and left." Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Spokesperson Billene Seyoum also claimed that militia in war-torn regions of Afar has been working in close collaboration with national defence forces, following which TPLF have "sustained" heavy losses over past weeks. Meanwhile, refuting all claims made by Ethiopia, Tigrayan Spokesperson Getachew K Reda mentioned that y had decided to move army to Amara highlands to curb violence in area. However, eir claim remains unverified so far.

Tigray denies defeat

Meanwhile, through a series of Twitter posts, Advisor to President of Tigray State Getachew K Reda rubbished claims made by Ethiopian counterpart. "Stories y are churning out every minute to hoodwink ir supporters into believing y are reversing our advance are simply t true. re was fighting in #Afar, and fighting in Amhara region is proceeding in a manner that will make sure #Abiy cant lie his way out," he wrote. He also added that Ethiopia is "trying to have ir supporters believe that y are making advances in battlefield in Amhara and Afar" but "y are t." "Thousands (of Ethiopian forces) are being mopped down by our forces," Reda asserted.

conflict between Tigray and rrn Ethiopia

Months after bel Peace Prize winner Ethiopian Prime Minister Agbiy Ahmed took chair, he launched a "coordinated attack" against rebel forces in rrn Tigray region in vember 2020. Prime Minister made call after Afar leftist political front TPLF besieged a key Ethiopian military base at Sero by using tanks and machine guns. This had led to inition of a 10-month long prolonged war in region.

Thousands of people have lost ir lives due to shelling in Horn of Africa, while over 2 million have been displaced, as per reports. In January 2021, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) informed that about 56,000 fled to neighbouring Sudan amidst ongoing war.

Meanwhile, PM Abiy had promised to hold a national-level democratic election including TPLF. However, elections were delayed due to ongoing pandemic. To which, TPLF expressed displeasure by stating that postponed elections have amounted to an unconstitutional extension of Abiys Prime Ministerial term. Ethiopian Federal Government also declared Tigray elections invalid.

Im: AP/representative