Ethiopian crisis: Amhara Special Forces withdraw from Tigray region city
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - The Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF) said on Thursday that members of the Amhara Special Forces, from Amhara region, who have been in and around the Tigray region city of Shire, some 140 km northwest of Tigray’s capital Mekelle, have withdrawn from the area.
The Ethiopian news outlet, Addis Standard, quoted a statement by the ENDF as saying the withdrawal was carried out under the peace agreement reached between the federal government and the leaders of the Tigray region in South Africa and Kenya in November last year.
The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), whose forces fought a two-year war with the Ethiopian Federal government, said a few days ago that it has handed over their heavy weapons as part of the 2 November 2022 peace agreement.
"Tigray has handed over its heavy weapons as part of its commitment to implementing the #Pretoria agreement, and the Monitoring & Verification Team has confirmed it," Getachew Reda, spokesperson for the TPLF tweeted on Tuesday night.
"We hope & expect this will go a long way in expediting the full implementation of the agreement. We hope & expect!" he added.
The two sides signed a Cessation of Hostilities agreement in Pretoria, South Africa, on 2 November 2022 after AU-led talks brokered by former President Obasanjo, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and former South African Deputy President, Dr. Phumuzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
Subsequently, military commanders of the Federal government and the TPLF also signed an agreement in Nairobi, Kenya, under which they made a commitment to unhindered humanitarian access and clarification of cessation of hostilities implementing arrangements.
A three-member mission was inaugurated at the end of last year under the auspices of the AU to monitor, verify and enforce the end of the war.
Thursday's statement by the ENDF said the Amhara Special Forces were inspected and seen off in the presence of General Abebaw Tadesse, ENDF Deputy Chief of Staff, who said the forces were departing the area according to orders from the government based on the peace agreement.
Basic services have been returning to life in the Tigray region since the signing of the peace agreement as telecom services, operations of dozens of branches of banks, reconnection of electricity, and air transport have resumed.
More than 100,000 tons of humanitarian aid, about 1,400 tons of medicines, and 10,000 tons of non-food items have also been delivered.
Roads and other infrastructures that were damaged are being reconstructed while hospitals have started providing services.
The Federal Police has announced that it has resumed protecting federal institutions in Mekelle, the Tigray region capital, such as the airport, power stations, telecom installations and banks.
The Federal Police also said that it had been maintaining the peace of the people and helping them to return to their homes and villages.
The Ethiopian conflict started on 3 November, 2020 when the TPLF forces attacked the Federal forces in Mekelle and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed responded the following day.
There was a five-month lull in the fighting but hostilities resumed again on 24 August last year.
The fighting has claimed thousands of lives, displaced millions, destroyed livelihoods and created a huge humanitarian problem amidst allegations of human rights violations, including possible war crimes.
-0- PANA MA 13Jan2023
