Eritrean troops crossed border without Ethiopia’s official invitation, MoFA (The Reporter)
Posted: 06 Mar 2021, 20:17
Is Abiy throwing Isaias under the bus? Are Eritrean soldiers invading ወራሪ forces? - while both forces are doing alternating shifts in Tigray towns. I think on the ወራሪ bit Abiy and Debrezion would find at least something they agree about : )
Eritrean troops crossed border without Ethiopia’s official invitation, MoFA
6 March 2021
By Sisay Sahlu
Says it can invite any foreign power, including Eritrean troops
Ethiopia did not invite Eritrean troops to engage in Tigray region during the government’s law enforcement operation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.
In a weekly presser, spokesperson of the Ministry, Dina Mufti told journalists that “No official military agreement exists between the two countries. We have not made an official invitation for Eritrean troops to be involved in Tigray region,” he said.
Following rocket launches carried out by the defunct Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) to Asmara, Eritrean troops positioned on the porous border area of the two neighboring countries could have possibly moved into Ethiopian territory, Dina Mufti said.
However, Dina chose not to unequivocally determine whether Eritrean troops have been involved or not.
Calls from international rights organizations and governments continue to demand the withdrawal of Eritrean troops from Tigray region.
Recently, Amnesty International, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, the European Union, the United States and others lamented the involvement of Eritrean forces in the region.
In addition, Amnesty International’s investigation concluded that Eritrean troops massacred hundreds of civilians in Axum in late November 2020, an alleged atrocity that amounts to a possible crime against humanity.
Last week, the US Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken spoke to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) and expressed US concern over the humanitarian and human rights crisis in Ethiopia’s Tigray region.
The US Secretary also pushed the Ethiopian government towards the immediate end to hostilities and the withdrawal of outside forces from Tigray, including Amhara regional security forces and Eritrean troops.
However, Dina downplayed the US statement calling it “ridiculous” and stating “We don’t have any Oromo, Amhara, Tigray or other regional forces; rather there is one federal force, which is acting based on the direction given by the federal government.”
Regarding Eritrean forces, explained Dina, they can participate in the operation if invited by the Ethiopian government.
“As a sovereign nation, we can invite Somalia, Sudan or Eritrea,” said Dina, “but, what we are saying is there has not been any request from Ethiopia for military support.”
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Eritrean troops crossed border without Ethiopia’s official invitation, MoFA
6 March 2021
By Sisay Sahlu
Says it can invite any foreign power, including Eritrean troops
Ethiopia did not invite Eritrean troops to engage in Tigray region during the government’s law enforcement operation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.
In a weekly presser, spokesperson of the Ministry, Dina Mufti told journalists that “No official military agreement exists between the two countries. We have not made an official invitation for Eritrean troops to be involved in Tigray region,” he said.
Following rocket launches carried out by the defunct Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) to Asmara, Eritrean troops positioned on the porous border area of the two neighboring countries could have possibly moved into Ethiopian territory, Dina Mufti said.
However, Dina chose not to unequivocally determine whether Eritrean troops have been involved or not.
Calls from international rights organizations and governments continue to demand the withdrawal of Eritrean troops from Tigray region.
Recently, Amnesty International, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, the European Union, the United States and others lamented the involvement of Eritrean forces in the region.
In addition, Amnesty International’s investigation concluded that Eritrean troops massacred hundreds of civilians in Axum in late November 2020, an alleged atrocity that amounts to a possible crime against humanity.
Last week, the US Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken spoke to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) and expressed US concern over the humanitarian and human rights crisis in Ethiopia’s Tigray region.
The US Secretary also pushed the Ethiopian government towards the immediate end to hostilities and the withdrawal of outside forces from Tigray, including Amhara regional security forces and Eritrean troops.
However, Dina downplayed the US statement calling it “ridiculous” and stating “We don’t have any Oromo, Amhara, Tigray or other regional forces; rather there is one federal force, which is acting based on the direction given by the federal government.”
Regarding Eritrean forces, explained Dina, they can participate in the operation if invited by the Ethiopian government.
“As a sovereign nation, we can invite Somalia, Sudan or Eritrea,” said Dina, “but, what we are saying is there has not been any request from Ethiopia for military support.”
Continue reading