The Amhara regional government has accused the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) of initiating a fourth round of offensives, which it contends violates the peace agreement signed in Pretoria.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the regional government declared, “The TPLF, having not learned from its past mistakes, has violated the Pretoria Agreement by initiating a fourth round of invasion against the citizens of the region.”
The region made this statement following the escalation of fighting in the disputed areas of Raya Alamata between the Tigray and Amhara regions.
The federal government army had seized control of Alamata town, while Tigrayan forces had advanced into the surrounding districts, prompting residents to flee to nearby towns, Kobo and Woldeia in the Amhara region.
In a press briefing yesterday, the Deputy President of Tigray’s interim administration, General Tadesse Wereda, announced that an agreement had been reached between the Federal Government and the Tigray regional Interim administration on the dissolution of the Amahra administration structures in southern Tigray and Tselemt woreda.
Raya Alamata district and other parts, which were claimed by both regions, had been under Tigray before the war broke out, but have since been seized by Amhara forces.
The federal government had previously stated that the territorial dispute between the Amhara and Tigray regions would be settled through a referendum.
During the press briefing, General Tadesse mentioned that one of the issues not implemented following the Pretoria Agreement is the repatriation of displaced people who have fled the contested areas. He added that consensus was reached during a recent discussion facilitated by the African Union to “dismantle illegal administrations established mainly in southern and western Tigray to facilitate the return of displaced persons.”
General Tadesse said that this task would primarily be carried out by the federal defense forces and would be monitored by the African Union Treaty Monitoring, Verification, and Compliance Mission, currently found in Mekele.
On its part, the Amhara regional government called upon the people of the region, the federal government, and the international community to help halt the invasion, asserting that the TPLF had invaded Raya Alamata, Raya Bala, Ofla, Korem, and Zata areas. The region called on the TPLF to refrain from attempting to wage a bloody war and to withdraw immediately from the areas it occupied in full compliance with the Pretoria Agreement. The Amhara administration says the territory was forcibly annexed by Tigray in the 1990s when the TPLF was the dominant political force in the country.
TPLF has once again seized control of Alamata and its surrounding areas. The unfortunate Raya population is facing displacement once more.The leadership that authorized the invasion holds the answers as to why it occurred at this particular time. But there are signs. We all know that the Abiy Ahmed-led Prosperity Party and the TPLF have agreed that the administrative institutions established in the Amhara region of Raya and wolkait will be dismantled, and the regional armed forces will be disarmed. It’s is clear that the dissolution of the structure and determining who would be responsible for disarming armed groups could be a very problematic process.If the Prosperity Party were to undertake this, there would likely be protests from the Amhara people, leading to the enforcement of the Fano. Therefore, the only viable option seems to let the TPLF do the work. Getachew Reda confirmed this in his Twitter message, stating that the recent confrontation did not involve conflict between the regional governments of Tigray and Amhara.Thus, the principal actors in this situation are the Prosperity Party and the TPLF. If anyone doubts it, let it be clear that the Amhara regional government cannot condemn the deaths of its own members, let alone care for the people it administers. Despite the fact that woreda administrators and other officials of Raya Alamata were killed this week, the region has not made any statements until this time.
No one wants to give up their guns. That won’t happen. But Ethiopia’s different fighting groups can keep their guns. And then realize that they need to pledge them to Ethiopia.
Ethiopia is in danger of doing what many other African nations have done and that is fight with their own countrymen. And the women and the children suffered. It never ended well. Keep the guns handy, for Ethiopia. Try getting along together.