Ethiopia conflict tensions spread as 150 'operatives' held

 Tensions over dely conflict in Ethiopia are spreing well beyond its cut-off Tigray region, as federal government says some 150 suspected “operatives” accused of seeking to “strike fear and terror” throughout country have been detained.

new statement says suspects “happen to be ethnically diverse,” but concerns remain high among ethnic Tigrayans amid reports of being singled out by authorities.

statement comes as rallies are expected Thursday in support of federal government’s military offensive in rrn Tigray region against a regional government that bel Peace Prize-winning Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his government regard as illegal.

Close to 10,000 Ethiopian refugees have alrey fled weeklong conflict into neighboring Sudan, where local authorities are alrey warning y are overwhelmed. y are preparing for up to 200,000 arrivals.

Ethiopia’s prime minister has rejected international pleas for negotiation and de-escalation, saying that cant come until Tigray People’s Liberation Front ruling “clique” is removed and arrested and its heavily stocked arsenal is destroyed.

What appeared to be a sudden slide toward civil war has been months in making. Abiy after taking office in 2018 anunced sweeping political reforms that won him bel but marginalized TPLF, which h dominated Ethiopia’s ruling coalition. TPLF later left coalition and in September held a local election in defiance of federal government.

Each side w regards or as illegal, and each blames or for starting fighting.

Communications and transport links remain severed in Tigray region, making it difficult to verify claims, while United Nations and ors warn of a looming humanitarian disaster as food and fuel run short for millions of people.

effects of conflict risk drawing in Ethiopia’s neighbors, tably Sudan, whose leers are under pressure from international community, Ethiopia’s federal government and w government of Eritrea, which TPLF accuses of joining fighting at Ethiopia’s request.

Experts fear that Horn of Africa, one of world’s most strategic regions, could be destabilized despite Abiy’s past peacemaking efforts.

(Im Credits: AP)