Ethiopia’s TPLF says it has completed ‘withdrawal’ from Amhara, Afar

ADDIS ABABA — Ethiopia’s rebellious Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has announced that it has completed withdrawal from Amhara and Afar regions where they have been fighting federal forces and their regional allies.

This comes days after rebel chief Debretsion Gebremichael said in a public letter to the United Nations that his group was pulling back from all war front to inside Tigray borders to create an ‘opening for peace’.

In a tweet, TPLF spokesman Getachew Reda said their forces have now completed withdrawal from Amhara and Afar, arguing that the decision to withdraw from war fronts will give the international community the chance to put more pressure in Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government.

“We have just completed the withdrawal of our forces from both Amhara & Afar regions. By doing so, we believe we have taken away whatever excuse the the international community to explain its feet-dragging when it comes to putting pressure on Abiy Ahmed & his regional partners in crime to stop their genocidal campaign in Tigray,” Getachew said.

“Equally, if not more importantly, we are making every effort we can to address the renewed challenge emanating from Asmara which obviously is has an appetite for yet another round of genocide. On top of its occupation of Western & Northwestern & northeastern parts of Tigray, the Regime in Asmara has been heavily involved in recent engagements in Afar & Amhara,” he added.

The TPLF mouthpiece further said the group will also make positions to protect their people and urged the in the international community to mount pressure on the government.

“While we will continue to do everything to defend our people from any threat, it now behooves the international community to try & bring pressure on these repeat offenders gagging for yet another round of genocide in Tigray,” He said.

“They need to be told that they cannot get away with yet another military adventure,” he added.