Ethiopia’s government on Thursday declared an immediate, unilateral truce in its conflict with rebellious Tigrayan forces to allow aid into the northern province, although it was not clear how it would enforce it.
“The government of Ethiopia hopes that this truce will substantially improve the humanitarian situation on the ground and pave the way for the resolution of the conflict in northern Ethiopia without further bloodshed,” the government said in a statement.
The United Nations has said more than 90% of the 5.5 million Tigrayans need food aid.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “hopes that this truce will translate into an effective cessation of hostilities ,respected by all parties in this conflict, to allow for effective humanitarian access for all who need it,” a UN spokesperson said.
The 16-month-old conflict has pitted Tigray’s rulers, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) – against the central government led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The US State Department welcomed the news and said it strongly supported Ethiopia’s commitment to work with humanitarian organisations “to expedite the unimpeded delivery of assistance to all those in need.”
A spokesperson for the Tigrayan forces did not respond to a request for comment on the announcement, which follows a visit by the US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, David Satterfield, to the capital Addis Ababa this week.
Ethiopia’s government has always said aid is permitted into Tigray, but only a tiny trickle has entered since Ethiopian troops withdrew from Tigray at the end of June last year.
It was not immediately clear how the central government would enforce its edict on the battlefield, where a mix of regional fighters and volunteer militias have been fighting TPLF forces.
Some convoys have been attacked and looted, others have been unable to get the necessary permission, and in November, local authorities in the region of Afar arrested more than 70 drivers contracted to deliver aid for the United Nations.
