Bridge Enabling Aid to Ethiopia’s Tigray Destroyed
A bridge serving as a vital food supply route to Ethiopia’s embattled Tigray region has been destroyed, aid groups said. The cause of the destruction was not immediately clear, but it hampers aid to a region facing famine conditions (Associated Press)
Ethiopia Declares Cease-Fire in Tigray as Rebels Occupy Regional Capital
The Ethiopian government declared a cease-fire in its conflict with regional forces in Tigray as the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) said the regional capital, Mekelle, was under its “complete control” (Washington Post)
The cease-fire could bring respite to a region that has suffered a humanitarian crisis and large-scale atrocities since the federal government’s forces began a military campaign in Tigray eight months ago. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he spoke with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and was hopeful for “an effective cessation of hostilities.” The Tigrayan rebels, for their part, vowed to drive all opposing forces from the region (Guardian)
Although there was no immediate comment from Eritrea, which has sent troops to fight alongside the Ethiopian government, witnesses said that Eritrean forces withdrew from the Tigrayan town of Shire (Reuters)
Air Strike Kills Dozens in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region
An air strike hit a market in the village of Togoga in Ethiopia’s Tigray region yesterday, killing dozens of people. Health workers reported that soldiers denied access to medical teams trying to reach the scene (Associated Press)
Ethiopia Holds Controversial Elections Amid Conflict in Tigray
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed faces his first real test at the ballot today in national and regional elections that have been marred by conflict and drawn criticism from international observers (CNN)
Abiy, who was appointed the head of Ethiopia’s ruling coalition in a 2018 internal deal, says today’s elections are proof of the country’s democratic progress. At least one-fifth of parliamentary constituencies are not voting due to violence, logistical problems, or the conflict between federal and regional forces in the country’s northern Tigray region (Guardian)
The opposition Oromo Liberation Front is boycotting the vote (News24)
Ethiopian Government Delegation to Meet With U.S. Officials
A government delegation is in Washington today to meet with the U.S. envoy to the Horn of Africa amid growing U.S. criticism of the crisis in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. Tigrayan activists are expected to protest outside the State Department (National)
UN Report Describes Somali Fighters in Tigray
UN Special Rapporteur Mohamed Babiker said in a report that he received information that Somali soldiers were sent from Eritrean military camps to the front lines of the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. The Eritrean and Somali governments previously denied that Somali fighters participated in the fighting. The report also said Eritrean troops committed deliberate attacks on civilians, including summary executions and sexual violence (National)
Ethiopian Aid Worker Killed in Tigray
An Ethiopian aid worker in the conflict-torn Tigray region was killed Saturday by a “stray bullet,” his employer, an Italian charity, said. He was the ninth aid worker reportedly killed in Tigray since fighting between the federal government and regional forces began in November (Associated Press)
Ethiopian Protestors Criticize U.S. Action Over War in Tigray
Thousands of Ethiopians rallied in Addis Ababa to protest U.S. action regarding the fighting in Tigray. Last week, the U.S. began restricting visas for Ethiopian government and military officials in addition to existing constraints on economic and security assistance (Associated Press)
Ethiopia Expels Journalist Covering Tigray
The government expelled a New York Times journalist who had reported extensively on the conflict in the Tigray region. Watchdog groups said the move is a further sign of press freedom waning in Ethiopia (New York Times)
WHO Details “Horrific” Situation in Ethiopia’s Tigray
World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the situation in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, where fighting has continued for months, is “horrific.” Tedros, who is from Tigray, condemned “rampant” rapes and indiscriminate killings in the region and said five million people are in need of humanitarian aid (Agence France-Presse)
Ethiopia Replaces Head of Interim Tigray Government
The federal government replaced the head of the interim government in Tigray, where federal and regional forces have been battling since November. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the change was the result of a six-month performance review (Al Jazeera)
UN Probe: Grave Violations in Ethiopia Have Continued Despite Truce
Even after a November 2022 cease-fire in Ethiopia’s war, hostilities persist in the country on a national scale, and Eritrean forces continue to commit sexual and gender-based violence, a UN-commissioned probe said in a new report [PDF] (UNHRC)
Ethiopian Airlines Denies Shipping Arms and Soldiers to Tigray
Ethiopian Airlines denied transporting weapons and soldiers to the Tigray region amid calls on social media to boycott the state-owned airline. Tigray airspace was shut down last month (Agence France-Presse)