Prime Minister of Ethiopia Admitted for the first time that troops from neighboring Eritrea supported their country’s army in a conflict against dissident leaders in northern Tigray.
Abiy Ahmed said Eritrean forces entered Ethiopian territory after government forces started an incursion into Tigray in November. They intervened to protect their border, he said in response to questions from lawmakers on Tuesday in the capital, Addis Ababa.
Abiy’s comments came after the United States called for an immediate withdrawal of Tigray’s Eritrean troops and the United Nations warned of a terrible humanitarian crisis in northern Ethiopia. Last month, the human rights group Amnesty International reported that Eritrean troops massacred hundreds of civilians in the northern Ethiopian city of Axum in November.
The prime minister also acknowledged the human rights violations committed by armed parties to the conflict and promised to bring the perpetrators to justice. He did not identify those suspected of committing the atrocities.
“There were rapes and destruction of property,” said Abiy. “Anyone who raped our Tigrayan sisters, anyone who is involved in looting will be held responsible in court.”
Abiy ordered an incursion into Tigray after allied soldiers from the region’s former ruling party attacked a federal military camp in the area, the culmination of months of tension between national and provincial authorities. Although Abiy declared victory on November 28, about three weeks after the start of the raid, the fight continues.
Leading Ethiopian officials previously denied that Eritrean forces were involved in the conflict, while the Eritrean government made no comment on the matter.
The conflict has so far cost more than $ 1 billion in damage to infrastructure, including telecommunications lines, power facilities, roads and Tigray airport, said Abiy. The government previously said it had provided humanitarian assistance to at least 4.2 million people in the region.
(Updates with comments from the Prime Minister over)