No federal military push in Tigray – Ethiopian official

By Agence de Presse Africaine Last updated Dec 24, 2021

APA-Addis Ababa Ethiopia’ s Foreign Affairs minister Redwan Hussien has said the government has no intention to pursue an all out military operation in Tigray to flush out the leaders of the rebel forces in the region. Briefing diplomats in Addis Ababa on Wednesday, Hussien said the Tigray People’ s Liberation Front have been pinned on the back foot following…

APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs minister Redwan Hussien has said the government has no intention to pursue an all out military operation in Tigray to flush out the leaders of the rebel forces in the region.

Briefing diplomats in Addis Ababa on Wednesday, Hussien said the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) have been pinned on the back foot following decisive blows to its foot soldiers in battle since the end of November.

The minister said contrary to what he called misleading narratives about their retreat to give peace a chance, TPLF forces have been cornered and defeated repeatedly on the battlefront and are left with no option but to withdraw from the fighting.

Hussien said the government is looking to neutralise Tigray’s rebel forces and render them incapable of prosecuting the conflict.

He made it clear that the government will maintains its inviolable rights to ensure Ethiopia’s territorial integrity by stationing its troops in all parts of the country, including in Tigray.

On ensuring lasting peace, he detailed the government’s proposed plans to have an all-inclusive dialogue with all Ethiopians irrespective of their political persuasions in which all contentious national matters would be on the table.

This would include constitutional amendments.

MG/as/APA