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Situation in Tigray (per 13 March)
- Tensions escalated in Tigray this week between the rival factions led by Debretsion Gebremichael, head of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), and Getachew Reda, president of the Tigray Interim Regional Administration (TIRA), raising concerns about a potential return of war in the region.
- Getachew Reda issued a temporary suspension of high-ranking military commanders affiliated with Debretsion’s faction of the TPLF, accusing them of a potential coup d’etat. The TPLF office responded, rejecting Getachew’s decision.
- The Tigray military aligned with Debretsion’s faction reportedly took over administration in Adigrat ousting the city administration backed by the federal government.
- Clashes with the military resulted in injuries among residents of Adi Gudom town, south of Mekelle, where a large number of armed men were reportedly deployed on Tuesday. According to BBC Tigrinya, eight members of the town administration were taken including the mayor.
- Two of the four injured people from Adi Gudom are reportedly being treated in Mekelle Ayder hospital.
- TIRA has called on the Ethiopian federal government to recognize the escalating crisis in the region and provide necessary support, urging that the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) should not be broken.
- TPLF has rejected TIRA’s call for third party intervention stating that such involvement would be a threat to the CoHA.
- Getachew Reda has travelled to Addis Ababa as he was reportedly asked by the Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to report on the current situation in Tigray. Reda has also met with various international delegations briefing them on the situation.
- Tigray opposition parties, namely Arena Tigray, Tigray Independence Party and Baytona Tigray, have condemned the TPLF faction led by Debretsion for attempting to overthrow TIRA, alleging that this coup effort is coordinated with the Eritrean government and calling for urgent international intervention.
- Getachew Reda has accused Eritrea of seeking to exploit the instability in Tigray and warned that certain factions within the TPLF are attempting to destabilize the region for their own gain.
- In a press briefing, he emphasized that while Eritrea aims to use Tigray as a buffer zone against potential Ethiopian government actions, the Interim Administration has not called for military intervention from the federal government.
Situation in Sudan (per 13 March)
- An attack by the RSF on El Fasher, North Darfur, resulted in the deaths of at least 10 people and injuries to 23 others. The RSF also launched assaults on villages in North Darfur controlled by the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Abdel Wahid Nur.
- UN warns of a dire humanitarian situation in North Darfur, particularly in El Fasher and surrounding areas, where over 200 health facilities are non-operational with severe shortages of all essential supplies.
Situation in Ethiopia (per 13 March)
- Fentaw Kebede, the administrator of Werebabo District in the Amhara Region, was killed alongside two others in an ambush by an armed group while they were on duty.
Regional & International Situation (per 13 March)
- The French Foreign Ministry raised its alert level for the entire Tigray area to red, after the break-out of conflict. Several aid workers have been ordered to leave Tigray as soon as possible.
- Ethiopian Lt. General Tsadkan Gebretensae expressed concerns that war between Ethiopia and Eritrea “seems inevitable”, with preparations nearing completion, and Tigray potentially becoming the central conflict zone.
- He cautioned that the deteriorating relationship between Addis Ababa and Asmara, along with internal divisions within Tigray, could exacerbate the situation, urging both the Ethiopian government and international community to intervene to prevent a renewed conflict.
- The Eritrean Minister of Information condemned these statements by Gen. Tsadkan, stating that what appears as a call for peace actually reveals a hidden intent to incite conflict and perpetuate hostility between Eritrea and Ethiopia.
- International actors, including the US, EU and UK, have called for dialogue to resolve the escalating tensions in Tigray. In a joint statement, multiple nations, including members of the EU, expressed their commitment to peace established in November 2022 and urged all parties to adhere to the CoHA.
- The South Sudanese government has refuted claims that Uganda deployed special forces to Juba, despite Uganda’s military chief stating that the troops were sent to assist President Salva Kiir in securing the capital amid rising tensions with his deputy, Riek Machar.
- Concerns about the stability of South Sudan have intensified following recent arrests of Machar’s allies.
- The European Parliament has passed a resolution calling for an immediate end to hostilities in Sudan, particularly highlighting the rise in sexual violence and child rape. MEPs condemned the attacks on civilians, urged sanctions against key military figures, and advocated for increased humanitarian aid.
Refugee and Migration Situation (per 13 March)
- The European Commission is set to propose reforms aimed at enhancing the EU’s migration policy, particularly focusing on increasing the number of returns for failed asylum seekers.
- The Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner emphasized openness towards innovative solutions, such as establishing return hubs outside EU territory, and confirmed that is expediting its review of the safe third country concept.
- The Dutch government has decided to move forward with strict legislation aimed at reducing asylum seeker numbers, despite significant criticism regarding its potential legal implications and effectiveness.
- The proposed measures include eliminating permanent residency for refugees, shortening initial refugee permits, and creating a two-tier asylum system that differentiates between various reasons for fleeing one’s home country.
Links of interest
Facebook: Tigray Communication Affairs Bureau
ትግራይ፡ ‘ጥይት ተኵሶም ብርከይ ወቒዖምኒ’- ካብ ግዳያት ዓዲጉዶም
Tigray Opposition parties oppose “activities to take government power through coup”
ፕረዚደንት ግዝያዊ ምምሕዳር ጌታቸው ረዳ ምስ ቢቢሲ ኣብ ዝገበሮ ቃለመጠይቕ እንታይ ኢሉ?
Ethiopia’s Tigray regional government appeals for help after factional fighters seize key towns
Darfur violence escalates: at least 10 killed in artillery strike, villages attacked
UN concerned about deteriorating health situation in North Darfur
News: Werebabo district administrator, two others killed in armed attack in Amhara region
Tigray escalation worries Western embassies
ቅልውላው ትግራይ፡ ኣመሪካን ሃገራት ኣውሮጳን ‘ህጹጽ ልዝብ’ ክካየድ ጸዊዐን
UPDF spokesperson confirms deployment of troops in South Sudan
South Sudan denies Ugandan troops have deployed to its capital
New EU regulations: deportations, return hubs, detention, bans and more
Ministers back “strictest ever” asylum plan despite criticism
Disclaimer: All information in this Situation Report is presented as a fluid update report, as to the best knowledge and understanding of the authors at the moment of publication. EEPA does not claim that the information is correct but verifies to the best of ability within the circumstances. Publication is weighed on the basis of interest to understand potential impacts of events (or perceptions of these) on the situation. Check all information against updates and other media. EEPA does not take responsibility for the use of the information or impact thereof. All information reported originates from third parties and the content of all reported and linked information remains the sole responsibility of these third parties. Report to info@eepa.be any additional information and corrections.