By: Ollus Ndomu
The latest turn of events in the escalating Ethiopia-Tigray war has prompted an exodus of foreign nationals from the country as France and Germany advise their citizens to leave in the shortest possible time.
Germany and France’s call on their citizens’ return follows the recent advisories by US and UK to their citizens amidst the UN’s temporary relocation of some its staff.
From mid-last week, the civil war has been escalating significantly as the rebel Tigrayan fighters say they are advancing towards taking over the capital, Addis Ababa; a move which if successful could be equal to toppling the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
With both warring parties not heeding to regional and international cease-fire calls, PM Ahmed said Tuesday that he would fight from the front line beginning today.
The war which broke out a year ago on a flimsy ground, has culminated into a worsening humanitarian crisis, with several thousands of northern women and children leaving in poverty, famine, with little or no access to healthcare services and schools.
News agencies have been unable to determine the actual number of people killed so far as communication blackout has been one of the several characteristic features of this war.
Despite the mention of a possible cease-fire by the ongoing diplomatic interventions spearheaded by the US Special Envoy Jeffrey Feltman, hopes are slowly fading given the latest pronouncements by fighting parties committing to nothing less than more gunfire.
According to Mr. Feltman, both sides believe they were on the cusp of a military victory, BBC Africa.
Amidst a growing fear that rebels could be consolidating to shift their fighting aggression into Addis Ababa, a move which would be both unacceptable and catastrophic according to Mr. Feltman, Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) confirmed over the weekend that its fighters were 200km from the capital adding that they were in control of peripheral towns.
Meanwhile, the Ethiopian government continues to refute every report of rebel advances.
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