Latest news with #Tigrayan
The Sun
15-07-2025
- The Sun
Three MSF aid workers intentionally killed in Tigray war
NAIROBI: Doctors Without Borders (MSF) revealed on Tuesday that three of its staff members were 'intentionally' killed during the 2021 conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region. The medical charity accused the Ethiopian government of failing to conduct a proper investigation, stating authorities had not fulfilled their 'moral obligations.' The Tigray war, which raged from 2020 to 2022, resulted in an estimated 600,000 deaths and displaced over a million people. Despite a fragile peace agreement, tensions remain high. The victims included Spanish national Maria Hernandez, 35, an emergency coordinator, along with Ethiopian staff Yohannes Halefom Reda and Tedros Gebremariam Gebremichael, both 31, who served as a coordination assistant and driver. All three were shot dead on June 24, 2021, in southern Tigray while traveling in a clearly marked MSF vehicle. MSF stated that an internal review confirmed the attack was deliberate, targeting aid workers who were easily identifiable. A convoy of Ethiopian soldiers was reportedly present at the time. Despite repeated requests for transparency, the NGO said Ethiopian authorities provided no credible answers. A 2022 investigation by The New York Times suggested an Ethiopian colonel ordered the killings, but MSF-Spain's director general, Raquel Ayora, clarified that the organization could not independently verify this claim. Ethiopian officials have not responded to MSF's findings or requests for dialogue. The federal government and military also ignored inquiries from AFP. The Tigray conflict involved Ethiopian federal forces, Eritrean troops, and local militias fighting Tigrayan rebels. All parties have faced allegations of war crimes, with reports highlighting particularly severe atrocities by Eritrean forces. Ethiopia, Africa's second-most populous nation, continues to grapple with unrest in regions like Amhara and Oromia, where federal forces are accused of further abuses.
Daily News Egypt
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily News Egypt
TPLF Rejects Abiy's War Claims, Invites AU to Verify Peace Stance
The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has issued a firm denial in response to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's recent warning about a potential new conflict in northern Ethiopia, insisting that the group has neither interest in nor preparation for war. In a statement released on Saturday, the TPLF dismissed allegations made by the Prime Minister during his address to parliament earlier this week, in which he warned that another war could be 'more devastating than the last' and called on religious leaders and diplomats to intervene preemptively. Abiy had hinted that certain foreign actors may be emboldening TPLF ambitions, alluding to what he described as assumptions that 'some countries would support us if war broke out.' The federal government has repeatedly accused Eritrea of backing the TPLF to destabilize northern Ethiopia — a charge that has gained new attention following unconfirmed reports of coordination between TPLF forces and the Eritrean military, especially in the disputed Zalambessa border area. The TPLF, however, has rejected these allegations and invited mediators from the African Union as well as international observers to visit Tigray and 'see the reality on the ground.' According to DW Amharic, the group stated that religious leaders, academics, and business figures could all verify that Tigray remains committed to peace. Despite these assurances, concerns persist over TPLF movements in the contested Wolkait region, where local sources report that Tigrayan forces have mobilized from three directions in an apparent attempt to regain control of the territory. Wolkait was originally part of the Gondar province but was absorbed into the Tigray region in 1991 under TPLF rule. It reverted to Amhara control following the 2020–2022 war, which began when TPLF forces allegedly attacked the federal Northern Command in Tigray. The TPLF maintains that its claim to Wolkait is grounded in the Pretoria Agreement signed in November 2022, citing provisions that call for the 'constitutional resolution of contested areas.' Yet, the group's continued military presence — reportedly exceeding 200,000 armed personnel — has drawn criticism for undermining commitments to disarm. Adding to the complexity, a breakaway faction from the TPLF's military wing has emerged under the name 'Tigray Peace Force' (TPF). This group, reportedly training in Ethiopia's Afar region, is said to oppose both the TPLF leadership and its alleged alignment with Eritrea. Although independent verification remains limited, credible reports suggest TPF units have already crossed into Tigray, raising fears of internal fragmentation within the region's armed forces. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission has not issued any formal comment on the developments, but observers warn that continued militarization of disputed zones may jeopardize the fragile peace built since 2022. The TPLF's statement closes with a renewed call for dialogue and constitutional mechanisms to resolve territorial disputes — but tensions on the ground suggest that political assurances alone may not be enough to prevent renewed violence.
Daily News Egypt
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily News Egypt
Rival Tigrayan Factions Clash in South Tigray, Sparking Fears of Renewed Conflict
Fresh armed clashes have erupted in Ethiopia's Tigray region between rival Tigrayan factions, raising concerns of renewed intra-regional violence at a time when northern Ethiopia remains fragile. According to local sources, the Tigray Defense Force (TDF), aligned with the Debretsion-led faction of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), has reportedly engaged militarily with another emerging armed group known as the 'Tigray Peace Force' (TPF). The incident reportedly occurred in the Alasa locality of Wajra, a zone in southern Tigray near the border with Ethiopia's Afar region. Local media outlet Ethio Focus reported that TDF forces used mortar and DShK heavy machine guns in the attack, though no confirmed casualties have yet been reported. The TPF, which only formally adopted its name earlier this week, is believed to have entered Tigray from neighboring Afar, where it had been organizing a resistance movement against what it considers the alliance of Debretsion's TPLF faction and the Eritrean government. Observers say the TPF has positioned itself as a rival force challenging the influence of TDF and its reported political-military alignment with Eritrea. Sources close to the situation suggest that the TDF deployment of nearly 50 trucks of troops to the area was led by General Yohannes, also known as 'John Medid,' a powerful TDF commander and close ally of Debretsion Gebremichael. General Yohannes is said to have acted to reinforce the faction's control over South Tigray, an area that has strategic and symbolic significance. Meanwhile, Brigadier General Gebreegziabher Beyene, reportedly aligned with the Tigray Peace Force, is said to have advised restraint, and no retaliatory strikes were confirmed as of Thursday afternoon. The lack of immediate escalation, however, has not prevented widespread concern. Several Tigrayan opposition groups have condemned the confrontation, warning that the region — which has already suffered years of war, displacement, and humanitarian crisis — cannot afford another round of internal bloodshed. 'Tigray must not be plunged into another war,' one regional political figure told Borkena, calling for 'immediate mediation between the factions.' The tensions are further complicated by accusations of foreign interference. The TDF is widely seen by critics as a proxy for Eritrean interests, particularly since the reported formation of a new political-military alliance known as Tsemdo, uniting Debretsion's TPLF faction and the Eritrean government. Reports indicate that this faction has received advanced weaponry, including drones, possibly with support from unnamed external actors — although these claims remain unverified. On the other hand, the Tigray Peace Force is viewed by some observers as having tacit backing from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's federal government, which has warned against 'unauthorized foreign alliances' and repeatedly accused Eritrea of fueling instability in the north. Eritrea, for its part, denies involvement. The emergence of competing armed factions, each potentially backed by rival governments, has alarmed analysts and rights groups. If not contained, the confrontation could trigger a new front of civil conflict in an already volatile region. As of Thursday evening, calls are mounting for regional leaders and international mediators to intervene before the situation escalates into another full-blown crisis.
France 24
01-07-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Sinaloa cartel's new alliance with rival could transform global drug trade
French MPs have rejected a bill that aims to bring France 's public services under one holding company. The text was rejected in the National Assembly on Monday before it could even be debated. It will now head to the Senate for a review. L'Humanité, the Communist paper, says: "Dati persists, public services resist." That headline is in reference to French Culture Minister – and Paris mayor hopeful – Rachida Dati, who spearheaded the controversial bill. Libération says the MPs' outright rejection of the text is a "slap in the face" for Dati, noting that she was abandoned in the vote by Macron's ruling coalition. In its editorial, Libération says Dati failed in her fourth attempt at passing the deeply controversial bill. It accuses her of being dogmatic in her bid to seek revenge on the journalists who have investigated her many corruption scandals. As Le Monde explains, the proposal seeks to merge France's three major public broadcasting companies: France Télévisions, Radio France and INA, the national archives. This merger has been likened to a French-style BBC. Those opposed to the move say it would hamper editorial independence and offer fewer resources at a time when maintaining editorial independence is crucial. Le Monde notes that this reform comes at a time when French public services are in relatively good health: Radio France's podcasts are among the most listened to and France Télévisions is holding strong against competition. This doesn't detract, however, from the challenges the sector faces: ageing audiences and fierce competition from on-demand television. In other news: The New York Times looks at how tough times for the Mexican Sinaloa dug cartel could push them to make dangerous alliances. The Sinaloa cartel is the world's most feared fentanyl cartel. It is reeling from internal fighting and a crackdown by Mexico and the USA. The cartel has for years run a global empire through alliances with affiliates around the world. But now, amid troubled times, a faction of the group have allied with a powerful adversary: the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. This alliance could turn the latter in to the world's biggest drug trafficker and redraw alliances and power structures around the world. As one expert puts it, it's as if the East Coast of the US seceded during the Cold War and reached out to the Soviet Union. The British daily The Guardian has a haunting photo report looking at the horrific sexual violence inflicted against Tigray woman in Ethiopia. Uruguayan photographer Ximena Borrazas specialises in documenting humanitarian conflict. During the 2020 war, tens of thousands of Tigrayan women were gang-raped by Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers. As Borrazas reports, some had foreign objects forcibly injected into their uterus – metal screws and even letters written by soldiers covered in plastic. These letters expressed a desire to render the women infertile so as to end the Tigrayan population. Some expressed a desire to seek revenge for Tigray's border war in the 1990s. Other women were subjected to acid attacks and still suffer today. The Guardian notes that nearly 90 percent of victims have not received any medical or psychological help. Justice for them seems an even more distant prospect. Finally, an amateur tennis player will face world n° 2 Carlos Alcaraz in the second round of Wimbledon. Britain's Oliver Tarvet, who is ranked 733rd in the world, is the lowest-ranked player in the entire singles draw. His three-set first round win over a Swiss opponent earned him nearly £100,000. But his amateur status and the fact that he's a US college student mean he can only received £10,000 in profit this year because of the national collegiate athlete rules. Nonetheless, he has a mammoth task ahead of him: his second-round match will be against Alcaraz on Wednesday!
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
War in Ethiopia's Tigray region has left many disabled veterans without care
MEKELE, Ethiopia (AP) — Chandera Weldesenbet is worried about dying before he receives the help he needs. The 41-year-old veteran of the recent war in Ethiopia's Tigray region has metal shrapnel in his body that is yet to be removed, more than two years after the fighting ended. Unable to get specialized medical care, Chandera is bedridden most of the time because of the pain. He is one of many casualties whose untreated or poorly treated injuries are a reminder of the war's toll. 'When I think about my future prospect and my ability to raise a child in such hardship and circumstances, I feel hopeless," he said, with a toddler at home. Chandera, a former hotel worker in the town of Shire, found that health facilities across the region had been largely destroyed in the fighting. The head of the Ethiopian National Rehabilitation Commission, Temesgen Tilahun, told The Associated Press there are more than 43,000 Tigrayan former combatants. Thousands of people were killed in the war that pitted local fighters against federal troops who were allied with fighters from other regions, and ended in 2022. No one knows how many were wounded. Some former combatants in Tigray returned to their homes to find there was no way to receive medical support for permanent disabilities. Hiluf Haile managed to receive therapy in the Tigray capital, Mekele, to adjust to a new prosthetic leg at the only center in Tigray that offers such treatment. But he has witnessed the chronic shortage of support for other disabled ex-combatants. Many who had serious injuries have limited access to orthopedic therapy and must navigate damaged communities that have little or no infrastructure to accommodate them. They 'survive by begging, laying bare the scar of the war,' Haile said. Tesfaye Kiros, another veteran, lost a leg and has been unable to find employment. He regularly begs at a busy bus station in Mekele, Tigray's capital. He dreams of returning to his hometown of Zalambessa, near the border with Eritrea. That remains elusive as new tensions rise between Ethiopia and Eritrea, its former ally in the war. The 31-year-old had been elated when a diaspora-led initiative, Rescue & Oasis Actions for the Disabled of War, chose him to receive a three-wheel electric bike to help him be mobile. But, still unable to find work, he sold it to feed his children. 'The bike would have helped me a great deal," he said. With limited resources as Tigray recovers from the war, the regional government has appealed to the federal government in Addis Ababa, the capital, for more support — and for international donors to come to the rescue. The government has offered veterans reintegration into the armed forces. 'Tigray has too many individuals with disabilities who need support, especially medicine, and the situation is extremely dire," said Gebrehiwot Gebrezgiabher, commissioner for the Tigray Disaster Risk Management Commission. 'We are too overwhelmed to support them without more financial support.' The Mekelle Ortho-Physiotherapy Center, which has operated in Tigray for nearly three decades with support from the International Committee of the Red Cross, is trying to fill the gap. The group has treated disabled combatants, providing prosthetic limbs and mobility aid such as crutches. But it is unable to help everyone who needs support without more funding. 'Over the years, we have delivered a total of 180,000 services. However, this number pales in comparison to the 65,000 we have provided in just the last three years,' manager Birhane Teame said. Teame urged international organizations to assist his group 'in alleviating the burden" in Tigray. ___ For more on Africa and development: ___ The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
