Advance of the Tigray fighters: Ethiopia declares a state of emergency

Status: 02.11.2021 7:02 p.m.

In the armed conflict in Ethiopia, the Tigray rebels threaten to advance on the capital Addis Adeba. The authorities called the citizens of the city to arms. The government declared a state of emergency across the country.

In Ethiopia, the government’s conflict with the rebel group TPLF from the troubled Tigray region threatens to spread to the rest of the country. The government in Addis Ababa declared a nationwide state of emergency in view of the advance of the TPLF. It should apply for six months.

Among other things, it enables roadblocks to be set up, traffic and communications links to be interrupted and the military to take over administration in certain areas, as the Council of Ministers said.

About a year ago fighting broke out in the Tigray region between troops from the TPLF-led regional government and the central government under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The regional government was initially driven out, but the TPLF was able to largely regain control and advanced into neighboring regions.

The TPLF had recently reported the capture of two strategically important cities and threatened to advance on the capital Addis Adeba.

The capital authorities called for the defense of Addis Ababa. People should have firearms registered with the police within the next two days. Already yesterday Abiy had called on the population to use violence against the rebels.

The humanitarian situation could get worse

The US warned of a further deterioration in the humanitarian situation. A possible advance of the TPLF on Addis Ababa is unacceptable, said the US special envoy for the region, Jeffrey Feltman.

The conflict sparked a humanitarian crisis. According to UN estimates, around 400,000 people in Tigray are living in famine. Around 5.2 million people need humanitarian aid to survive. In the Afar and Amhara regions, 1.7 million people do not have enough to eat.

USA threatens to terminate trade agreements

In view of developments in the country, the US threatened to terminate an important trade agreement. US President Joe Biden informed Congress in a letter published by the White House about his plans, which he justified with ongoing human rights abuses in Ethiopia.

If there is no improvement by the beginning of the new year, he could be kicked out of the Agoa program. It stands for African Growth and Opportunity Act and guarantees many African countries duty-free access for thousands of goods in the US market. For Ethiopia, the agreement is of great economic importance.

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