Ethiopia: PM Warns Tigray Forces That Surrender Deadline Has Passed

By Staff, Agencies

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed warned on Tuesday that a three-day deadline for rebel regional forces to surrender has expired, paving the way for a final push on Mekelle, the capital of the northern region of Tigray.

Tigrayan forces fired rockets into the neighboring nation of Eritrea this weekend, escalating a conflict in which hundreds of people have been killed on both sides, and threatens to destabilize other parts of Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. More than 25,000 refugees have fled into Sudan.

The prime minister's warning came after government forces carried out "precision led and surgical air operations" outside Makelle, a government emergency task-force said, and ground forces pushed forwards.

"The three-day ultimatum given to Tigray Special Forces and the militia to surrender to the national defense ... have ended today," Abiy said in a statement posted on Facebook.

"Following the expiration of this deadline, the final critical act of law enforcement will be done in the coming days."

There was no immediate comment from Tigray's leaders. With communications mainly down and media barred, Reuters could not independently verify assertions made by any side.

Tigrayan forces might seek to dig in as the military advanced into the more mountainous terrain towards Mekelle, said Matt Bryden, founder of Nairobi-based regional think-tank Sahan.

"I would guess as they [the Ethiopian army] enter the highlands, heavier fighting is likely to start," he said.