ABIY AHMED REJECTS CLAIMS OF CIVIL WAR IN ETHIOPIA

Mon 09 November 2020:

Ethiopia’s prime minister took to Twitter on Monday, criticizing widespread description of law enforcement measures in Tigray and other places as precursors of civil war.

Nobel-winning leader has said his nation was not descending into “chaos” despite a military offensive against the restive Tigray region, where air strikes and fighting have reportedly killed hundreds of people in recent days.

A military official in Amhara told Reuters news agency on Monday that the clashes with Tigrayan forces in Kirakir, near the border between the regions of Tigray and Amhara, had killed nearly 500 Tigrayan forces.

“Concerns that Ethiopia will descend into chaos are unfounded and a result of not understanding our context deeply,” Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed tweeted on Monday.

“Ethiopia is grateful for friends expressing their concern. Our rule of law operation is aimed at guaranteeing peace and stability once and for all by bringing perpetrators of instability to justice,” he said.

The operation “will wrap up soon by ending the prevailing impunity.”

#Ethiopia is grateful for friends expressing their concern. Our rule of law operation is aimed at guaranteeing peace and stability once and for all by bringing perpetrators of instability to justice. 1/2

— Abiy Ahmed Ali 🇪🇹 (@AbiyAhmedAli) November 9, 2020

The flare-up in the northern region bordering Eritrea and Sudan has brought fears of civil war in Africa’s second-most populous nation where ethnic conflict has killed hundreds since Ahmed took over in 2018.

The 44-year-old, who is the continent’s youngest leader, won the Nobel Peace Prize last year for democratic reforms following years of repressive government and for making peace with Eritrea after a border war that had killed tens of thousands.

But the conflict in Tigray threatens national stability.

One risk is that Ethiopia’s army could split along ethnic lines, with Tigrayans defecting to the regional force.

There are also fears of reprisals against Tigrayans elsewhere.

Addis Ababa police said on Sunday the government had arrested 162 people in possession of firearms and ammunition, on suspicion of supporting the Tigrayan forces.

Furthermore, as Abiy’s government mobilises troops to Tigray, other areas already roiled by ethnic violence could face a security vacuum, analysts say.