Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed says army “will destroy” Tigray rebels

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The insurgents claim significant territorial gains and claim to be 220 km from Addis Ababa, the capital.

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“There is no turning back without winning.” In a video claiming to show it on the battlefield, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on Saturday (November 27th) that the military would “destroy” the Tigray rebels, with whom his government has been at war for over a year.

“We are going to win, the enemy is dispersing”, added the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize winner in a 34-minute video posted to Twitter. “Until we destroy the enemy, there will be no rest.”

This week, the announcement of the Prime Minister’s departure to the front lines to conduct military operations garnered support from artists and athletes, including legendary marathoner Haile Gebreselassie. The authorities announced on state media that Abiy Ahmed had left the management of “current affairs” to his deputy prime minister. Another state outlet broadcast what it said were the first images of the prime minister, a former lieutenant colonel, in uniform, at the front.

The statements come at the end of a week when Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) rebels claimed major territorial gains, claiming to be about 200 km from Addis Ababa, the country’s capital. Communications are cut off in combat zones and access to independent media is restricted, making it difficult to verify information.

The international community is worried about the recent escalation of the conflict and several states, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy, have called on their citizens to leave Ethiopia. France plans to repatriate some nationals on Sunday in a charter flight.


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