As tensions continue to rise in the Horn of Africa, the United States government, Ethiopia’s neighboring country Eritrea has joined the conflict — sending troops over the border into Ethiopia to help fight rebellious forces in Tigray.
In 2018, President Isaias Afwerki signed a peace deal with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, ending two decades of hostilities stemming from a 1998-2000 border war. Abiy won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.
Although relations between Abiy and Isaias have vastly improved, Isaias’s relations with Tigrayan leaders remain hostile.
After claiming victory following his invasion of Tigray last month, Abiy has been eager to present that the country is back to business as usual. Still, rebellious leaders are claiming Abiy’s words could not be further from the truth.
“The criminal clique pushed a patently false narrative that its fighters and supporters are battle-hardened and well-armed, posing the risk of protracted insurgency in the rugged mountains of Tigray,” Abiy said in a statement per Al Jazeera.
Tigrayan rebel leaders insist that government troops have been battling with the soldiers for more than a month.
“It also claimed that it has managed to undertake strategic retreat with all its capability and regional government apparatus intact. The reality is the criminal clique is thoroughly defeated and in disarray, with insignificant capability to mount a protracted insurgency.”
Communications in Tigray have been severely restricted since the beginning of the conflict, which means that human rights organizations and reporters have been unable to confirm the stories presented by either side.
