31 October 2021
The United States has called on Tigray rebels to withdraw from Amhara and Afar regions in northern Ethiopia, where fighting has intensified.
A statement from the State Department urged the TPLF to “suspend its entry into Dessie and Kombolcha.”
The Tigrean opposition said on Saturday that it had “taken full control” of the key town of Dessie, prompting the government to vehemently deny it, although even residents reported that federal forces had withdrawn.
The capture of Dessie by Tigray Defense Force marks a new phase in the nearly year-long war in Ethiopia, after federal forces withdraw from most of Tigray in June and the conflict has expanded into neighboring regions of Amhara and Afar.
The US has been urging restraint on both sides of the conflict and to avoid civilian casualties. “I urge the TPLF not to use artillery against the cities, and we reiterate our opposition to the Ethiopian federal shelling of Mekelle and other parts of Tigray, which has resulted in many casualties,” said State Department spokesman Ned Price. issued a press release.
The US wants both sides to enter a negotiations stating “There is no military solution to this war, and all parties must begin ceasefire negotiations without preconditions.”
Dessie is 400 km north of the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. It’s a strategic town that connects different parts of Ethiopia, it’s capture by the TDF can been as a strategic setback for the Federal Government.
Despite Federal Government denial, residents in the town have reported that federal forces had withdrawn and the town is now in the hands of TDF.
“At around 2:00 am, federal forces began withdrawing from the Dessie”, a resident told AFP, declining to be named.
TPLF fighters “entered the town, and we do not see any Ethiopian federal troops,” said another resident, who gave his name as Mohammed.
The TPLF says it now has full control of the town of Dessie.
“Our forces have pushed back Federal forces from Dessie and headed for Kombolcha,” TPLF spokesman Getachew Reda told Reuters.
Getachew added that they had arrested several Ethiopian federal soldiers.
The capture of Dessie was a strategic victory for the Tigreans against federal forces trying to liberate the Amhara region.