THOUSANDS FLEE TIGRAY REGION TO SUDAN AS ETHIOPIA RULES OUT TALKS WITH “REBEL FORCES”

Wed 11 October 2020:

Thousands of people fled to neighboring Sudan on Tuesday as the conflict escalated between Ethiopia’s federal government and local leaders in the northern region of Tigray as Ethiopian government on Monday ruled out dialogue with “rebel forces”

Over 6,000 Ethiopians had crossed into Sudan’s border provinces of Kassala and al-Qadarif by the end of Tuesday, according to the country’s state-run SUNA news agency. The number is expected to go up to 200,000 in the coming days.

“The number of displaced Ethiopians who crossed the borders to the Sudanese areas of Al-Kadi, Al-Qadimah and Hamdayet have reached more than 6,000,” said Sudan’s official news agency (SUNA).

SUNA reported that Ethiopians began fleeing towards the Sudanese areas Monday.

Informed sources told SUNA that the number of displaced Ethiopians may reach up to 200,000 in the coming days, an amount that exceeds the capabilities of the Al-Shagarab refugee camp in the eastern state of Kassala.

The head of the Sudanese Transitional Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, met Tuesday with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s special envoy and expressed Sudan’s support to the Ethiopian government in the circumstances it faces.

Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region is witnessing armed clashes between the Ethiopian military and the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) which has prompted thousands of Ethiopians to flee the region.

The Ethiopian government on Monday ruled out dialogue with “rebel forces” in Tigray region until its “objectives” are achieved.

“Dialogue will take place when firearms in the hands of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) are recaptured or destroyed, the government brings those gangs to justice, and peace prevails,” Redwan Hussein, a spokesman for the prime minister’s office, told a news conference.

Conflict in the northern region erupted when the government accused forces loyal to the TPLF of attacking and looting an army base in Mekele last week.

The TPLF, which dominated Ethiopian politics until Abiy Ahmed’s assent to power in 2018, ruled the region before imposition of a state of emergency on Nov. 4. Formation of an interim setup is currently underway.

Asked if the “rebels” are in possession of missiles, Redwan termed the reports as hoax, saying if they have, “somebody must have been arming them and that is also treasonous.”

About casualties, he said: “The government cannot rule out casualties, even of civilians… the first casualties were of the defense forces… we have to wait for facts to come out.”

The spokesperson accused the TPLF “terrorist gangs” of deploying “teenagers” to fight the army.

Meanwhile, the African Union expressed concern over “escalation of military confrontation.”

“I’m following with concern the escalation of military confrontation in #Ethiopia &wish to reaffirm the AU’s firm attachment to the constitutional order, territorial integrity, unity & national sovereignty of the FDR of Ethiopia to ensure stability in the country&in the Region,” AU Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat tweeted.

He appealed for “immediate cessation of hostilities,” and called on the conflicting parties to respect human rights, ensure protection of civilians and engage in dialogue for a peaceful resolution.

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