TPLF dismisses ceasefire in Tigray, vows to crush Eritrean and Amhara troops "completely"

NAIROBI, Kenya - The war in the Tigray region and surrounding areas seems to be far from over, following the rejection of a ceasefire by Tigray Defense Forces [TDF], formally known as Tigray People's Liberation Front [TPLF], which has been controlling the region for decades.

Ethiopian National Defense Forces [ENDF] suffered a huge blow on Monday after TDF retook Mekelle, the regional administrative capital of Tigray, weeks after launching a major onslaught against the federal troops which have been controlling the area for months.

On Tuesday, TDF entered Shire, a town in the northwest of Mekelle, which has been under the control of Eritrea troops. Multiple sources confirmed Eritrea troops had withdrawn from the town and Axum, a holy city in northern Ethiopia.

The news has prompted street celebrations in multiple locations as federal soldiers, their Eritrean allies, and members of an Abiy-appointed interim regional government have fled their posts.

In a statement, Tigray's pre-war government hailed the TDF advances and called for its fighters to press further, an indication that the war may escalate in the coming weeks as TDF consolidates its territories in the region.

"The government of Tigray calls upon our people and army of Tigray to intensify their struggle until our enemies completely leave Tigray," it said.

The International Crisis Group, a conflict prevention organization, said Tuesday the TDF was "now in control of most of the region, including major towns". It achieved these gains "mainly through mass popular support and capturing arms and supplies from adversaries," said senior analyst William Davison.

Communications were cut throughout Tigray on Tuesday, making it difficult to verify reports of troop movements. But by Tuesday afternoon UN officials had confirmed TDF forces were in the Shire.

"The population has taken to the streets in droves. Huge crowds line the main routes and movement is somewhat difficult," a UN security assessment document said.

Getachew Reda, a spokesman for Tigrayan forces, told AFP Tuesday evening they were prepared to chase their opponents well beyond Tigray -- even as far as the capitals of Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea, which has allied itself with Abiy.

"We'll do whatever it takes to secure Tigray. If marching to Asmara is what it takes to secure Tigray, we will do it. If marching to Addis is what it takes to secure Tigray, we will do it," Getachew told AFP.

"Nothing is off the table."

In addition to Eritrea, federal forces have received support from Ethiopia's Amhara region, which borders Tigray to the south. Amhara forces have been accused of annexing portions of Tigray in what US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has described as "ethnic cleansing".

In a statement Tuesday, the Amhara branch of Abiy's ruling party said it would reject any attempt by Tigrayan forces to take back that land.

"We want to reiterate that if there is a desire to wrest these areas by force unlawfully, there will be no Amhara that won't pay for his freedom," it said.

- 'Difficult' road to peace -

The TDF's current offensive was timed to coincide with Ethiopia's highly anticipated national elections, which took place June 21 in much of the country -- though not in Tigray -- and were expected to deliver Abiy a comfortable victory.

The brutal war in Tigray has been marked by massacres, widespread sexual violence, and other abuses.

Late Tuesday the United States also cautiously welcomed the action, noting it "could be a positive step if it results in changes on the ground to end the conflict, stop the atrocities, and allow unhindered humanitarian assistance".

Getachew, however, dismissed the ceasefire declaration as "a joke." His statement that TDF will pursue "enemies" in their territories could evoke yet another bloody encounter in a region that has lost thousands of people through massacres.

Unconfirmed reports indicated that the TDF had killed close to 33,000 ENDF troops in the last two weeks thus necessitating the unprecedented ceasefire pronouncement. Even in November when the war started, TDF had fired missiles to Eritrea, a further acknowledgment of its prowess.

GAROWE ONLINE