Ethiopian Govt Declares Emergency Over TPLF Rebel Advance
The Ethiopian government on Tuesday declared a nationwide state of emergency and ordered residents of Addis Ababa, to prepare and defend their neighbourhoods amid fears that Tigrayan rebels were heading for the capital.
The measure came after several days of reported advances by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) rebel group, which took up arms against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government last year. State-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate said:
The state of emergency is aimed to protect civilians from atrocities being committed by the terrorist TPLF group in several parts of the country.
Under the measures, several restrictions, which include a curfew, road closures and searches of “anyone suspected of collaborating with terror groups”, will be imposed, according to state-affiliated Broadcaster Fana.
Meanwhile, an Oromo group allied with Tigrayan fighters told AFP Wednesday that Addis Ababa could be overrun by rebels within “months if not weeks”, as they advance southwards.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Abiy accused the rebel alliance of trying to turn Ethiopia into Libya and Syria, adding, “They are set to destroy a country – not to build it.”
He also urged citizens to support the war effort, warning them that victory over the threat posed by the rebels would be unattainable if they do not work together.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday urged both sides to step back from the brink.
Through his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, Guterres called “for an immediate cessation of hostilities, unrestricted humanitarian access to deliver urgent life-saving assistance, and an inclusive national dialogue to resolve this crisis and create the foundation for peace and stability throughout the country.”
–AfricaNews
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