Ethiopia PM claims success in military offensive in Tigray

By Kalkidan Yibeltal

Ethiopia's Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, has declared the military’s operation in the northern state of Tigray a success.

In a televised address, Mr Abiy vowed to continue with the military offensive despite international calls for restraint.

The federal authorities accuse the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) - which has held power in the state for close to three decades - of launching multiple attacks on the military. 

The TPLF in turn said they couldn’t "ignore the imminent danger".

On Wednesday an army base was taken over by forces loyal to the regional government of Tigray.

International calls for the de-escalation of tensions seem to have been ignored.

The federal government has already declared a six-month state of emergency in Tigray. The airspace has been closed.

Officials in the federal capital, Addis Ababa, say the conflict is against "a small group hellbent on destabilising the country".

The TPLF has previously accused the federal government of plotting to invade Tigray.

Tensions between the TPLF, once a dominant member of Ethiopia’s ruling coalition, and Mr Abiy’s government have been building for months. 

A regional election held in defiance of a decision at federal level to delay all polls is widely considered to be the reason for the rapid deterioration in relations.

This article originally appeared on BBC News

Photo: Reuters