Ethiopia says Eritrean troops begin withdrawing from Tigray

NAIROBI (Reuters) – Eritrean forces have begun withdrawing from the Tigray region in northern Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry said in response to increasing reports blaming Eritreans for human rights violations, including rape, looting and civilian killings.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed also described a resurgence in fighting over the past few days against ‘enemies’ who he said mixed with the civilian population.

The United States, Germany, France and other G7 countries on Friday called for a speedy, unconditional and verifiable withdrawal of Eritrean soldiers, followed by a political process acceptable to all Ethiopians.

Eritrea and Ethiopia have been denying the presence of Eritrean troops for months despite dozens of eyewitness reports. On March 23, Abiy, Ethiopia, acknowledges their presence. Eritrea has still not acknowledged that its troops are in Ethiopia and denies responsibility for abuses there.

“The Eritrean troops crossing the border through the TPLF have now begun evacuating and the Ethiopian National Army has taken over the guarding of the national border,” the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, referring to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, Ethiopia’s main enemies in the conflict.

Abiy said his troops had carried out major operations over the past three days as they fought enemies on eight fronts in the west and north. He did not specifically mention Tigray, but the region is located in the north.

‘When the junta switched to a guerrilla force, mixed with the farmers and started moving from place to place. We can not eliminate it within three months, ‘he said in a video posted on his Facebook page.

Ethiopia sent its troops to Tigray in November to fight the TPLF, the then ruling party, which attacked army bases in the region. At the end of November, the TPLF withdrew from the capital Mekelle and the Ethiopian government declared victory.

Electricity and telephone connections to Tigray have declined over the past four days, making it difficult to verify any Eritrean withdrawal. Reuters journalists in Tigray last month saw Eritrean soldiers in large towns and highways, far beyond the border area.

Thousands of people were killed in the conflict, hundreds of thousands were forced out of their homes and there is a shortage of food, water and medicine in the region.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said this week that “clashes and ambushes have been reported in most parts of the region”. Last month, an aid organization also saw the aftermath of an ambush in a military convoy and executions of civilians immediately afterwards on a highway.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that full access to the region has now been granted to humanitarian organizations.

OCHA said on its website: “In parts of southern and south-eastern Tigray, for example, access has been curtailed for more than a month and the road from Alamata to Mekelle remains closed, blocking humanitarian operations in the area.”

The Foreign Ministry said a joint investigation into alleged human rights violations would soon begin with external experts, urging donors to send more food and medical aid.