Categories: AFRICA

After Months of Denial, Ethiopian PM Admits Eritrean Troops Presence in Tigray

Abiy Ahmed

Troops from Eritrea have been taking part in the conflict in the northern region of Tigray, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, has admitted.

This is the first time the East African country’s Prime Minister will acknowledge the participation of neighbouring Eritrean soldiers in the Tigray conflict.

For months both countries have denied that troops crossed the border.

Addressing the Ethiopian parliament, Mr Abiy said he had spoken to Eritrean officials about allegations that soldiers from Eritrea had carried out atrocities in Tigray.

He didn’t admit that Eritrean soldiers had been deployed in Ethiopian towns, where rights groups allege they have committed atrocities including killing unarmed civilians.

Hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians have been displaced since the war began in November.

To many observers, it’s long been clear that Mr Abiy struck a deal with the Eritrean president to combine forces and oust a common enemy – the regional government in Tigray.