Africa-Press – Ethiopia. The Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party has accused the federal government of pushing the Tigray region towards a new war, warning of the rising hostile rhetoric that recalls the atmosphere preceding the outbreak of war in 2020.
These accusations followed a demonstration organized by the government in the capital, Addis Ababa, last weekend to denounce what it described as the forced recruitment of fighters in Tigray by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.
The opposition party stated in a statement that the federal government is using “similar rhetoric” to that which preceded the outbreak of war six years ago, expressing deep concern over the escalating tensions between Addis Ababa and Mekelle, the capital of Tigray.
The statement added: “Ethiopia can no longer bear more bloodshed,” considering that official media is conducting a propaganda campaign aimed at psychologically preparing public opinion for the possibility of a new military confrontation.
During a demonstration organized last Saturday by a Tigrayan group close to the government, Getachew Reda, the former head of the interim administration in Tigray and a current minister in the federal government, attacked the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, describing it as an “illegitimate party” and accusing it of being behind the forced recruitment operations in the region.
Tigray has been facing accusations of conducting forced recruitment campaigns for several months, accusations that have previously been condemned by Ethiopian human rights organizations, as well as Human Rights Watch, while the Tigray People’s Liberation Front continues to deny these allegations.
For his part, the head of the front, Debretsion Gebremichael, reaffirmed his party’s position, emphasizing that “only peace will not guarantee the sovereignty of Tigray,” and called on the people of the region to “restore their dignity” and prepare to defend the region’s sovereignty, in statements that could heighten fears of escalating tensions between the federal government and Tigray authorities.
