Fighters in Ethiopia’s Tigray region have confirmed sending rocket fire into neighboring Eritrea, escalating the deadly conflict within the nation.
Reuters spoke to five regional diplomats who claim at least three rockets were fired at the nation’s capital. Three of the diplomats said at least two of the rockets hit Asmara International Airport.
The move marks 12 days of intense fighting between Tigrayan forces and the Ethiopian military.
On Nov. 4, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed began a military offensive on the Tigrayans, claiming their forces attacked federal troops. He claims the government has carried out airstrikes in order to hinder their capabilities.
“Our campaign in the Tigray Region to uphold rule of law is progressing well,” Abiy said in a tweet on Sunday. “Those who are committing crimes against humanity and peace will be held accountable.”
Tigrayan leader Debretsion told Reuters, without providing evidence, that the Ethiopian government has used Eritrean forces to attack them for the past few days. He told the outlet via text, “Our country is attacking us with a foreign country, Eritrea. Treason!”
Eritrea’s government denies involvement in the conflict.
So far, thousands of refugees have fled the country. Days ago, Amnesty International reported a “massacre of a very large number of civilians, who appear to have been day labourers in no way involved in the ongoing military offensive.”
Experts are concerned about the wider implications the conflict could have on the nations that surround Ethiopia.
“Chronic instability and acute humanitarian needs are rife across the region,” said Cameron Hudson, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center. “A prolonged conflagration between well-armed factions inside of Ethiopia could send hundreds of thousands of refugees across borders, disrupt trade routes, and force Addis Ababa [the nation’s capital] to abandon its role of regional anchor state, mediator, policeman, and peacekeeper.”
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front was the dominant party of the ruling coalition, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, for many years. That coalition appointed Abiy as prime minister in 2018. Shortly thereafter, Abiy disbanded the coalition and created the Prosperity Party. The TPLF strongly opposed its formation and did not join.
When Abiy took the reins, he introduced a set of sweeping political reforms.
In June, the government of Ethiopia made the decision to delay the election and extend Abiy’s term in office. They determined to hold the election, which was supposed to take place in August, nine to 12 months after health officials determine it is safe. Tigrayans were infuriated. The region held its local elections anyway. In the regional legislature, the TPLF won in a landslide.
Despite Abiy’s assurances that he would provide press freedom, journalists were barred from flying to Tigray during their election, and the state’s own appointed human rights commission claims Ethiopian journalists have been arrested.
Phone and internet connections in Tigray have also been cut off by the Ethiopian government.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article stated that the TPLF was the ruling party of Ethiopia until Abiy became prime minister in 2018. The TPLF was instead a political party within the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front. The Washington Examiner regrets the error.
