The Ethiopian government has called upon capable citizens who are of age to join the defense forces, special forces and militias in the fight against the now outlawed group, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
The group was a powerful political entity for over 27 years in Ethiopia before Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took power in 2018.
The conflict between the two factions that began in November last year is yet to end, and the United Nations is concerned about the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Northern region. Coletta Wanjohi reports from Addis Ababa:
The Ethiopian government has called on its citizens to show patriotism. A statement from the Office of the Ethiopia Prime Minister has asked citizens to support the government in ousting the TPLF in the North.
The government has since labelled it a terrorist organization.
Government urges citizens to join fight against Tigrayan forces: Boru Halakhe
Those that cannot join the army, are being encouraged to provide supplies and moral support to the army.
And all citizens have been asked to work closely with the security forces to be what the government terms as its “eyes and ears to track down spies and agents of TPLF ”
Fresh fighting in part of the northern region has led to the killing of over 200 people, in a school and a health center.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government has blamed these and other atrocities on the TPLF group.
The TPLF has denied being part of atrocities and instead blames the government.
As fighting in the North intensifies, humanitarian agencies are worried that access to millions who need assistance is being hindered by the growing insecurity.
