He called on “all capable and mature Ethiopians” to take up arms in the war against the rebels in Tigre.

It is a statement that, in its defensive tone, seems to be sealing the end of the unilateral ceasefire ordered by Ethiopia, and raising fears of a new intensity in the war against the insurgents of the Tigris Defense Forces (TDF) for nine years. Months. The office of Prime Minister Abi Ahmed was called on Tuesday, August 10th. “All Ethiopians and Adults” To “Show their patriotism along with security forces, special forces and militants”, Especially by changing “The eyes and ears of our country to detect and expose spies and agents”.

The Prime Minister, a former lieutenant-colonel, makes more speeches calling for mobilization. So, on July 6, he publicly praised his ability to raise a national force in a few days:

⁇ In one, two or three weeks, 100,000 trained, armed and organized special forces can be mobilized. If the Special Forces are not enough, one fighter can mobilize half a million fighters in one or two months, if needed. “

TDF has a military initiative

In the capital, Addis Ababa, authorities continue to call on young people to take up arms, while the Central Army has suffered heavy casualties, both human and material, in the Tigris Mountains for nine months.

The Battle of Tigre, which began in November 2020, has long been confined to this northern province of the country. Since the end of June, two neighboring regions, Amhara and Afar – have declared a defensive, unilateral ceasefire after Ethiopian rule.

The DDF rebels now have a military initiative. Taking advantage of the withdrawal of Ethiopian soldiers, they approached the Amhara and Afar areas and threatened to cut off the road connecting Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital’s main supply chain, with Djibouti. They deny wanting to take control of the regions, and say they want to protect some roads to prevent government forces from reuniting and at the same time promote the work of humanitarian organizations.

Food emergency and hundreds of thousands of displaced people

According to the Ethiopian Prime Minister, a unilateral ceasefire order in June is aimed at providing humanitarian aid, but says access to voluntary organizations is, overall, more difficult than ever. On August 5, Mr. Abhi’s government Suspended Medicines Sans Frontieres (MSF) and Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Two NGOs have been indicted in Tigray “Misinformation”.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has announced that for the first time, 23,000 men, women and children will be able to access the Adi Harush and Mai Aini refugee camps in the Tigre region from July 13.

Nine months after the war, far from any media presence, the conflict has already claimed thousands of lives and displaced hundreds of thousands. The UN estimates that more than 170,000 people have been internally displaced in the Amhara and Afar areas, where more than 300,000 people are suffering. “Emergencies” Food Tigray, with about 5.2 million people – or more than 90% of Tigray’s population – living on external aid, is a UN refugee. According to, 400,000 men, women and children live in conditions.

War also threatens archaeological gems. Lalibela, the iconic city of the Amhara region, was captured by rebels on August 5. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is famous for its eleven churches carved out of rock on the 13th.^e Century

Invited by UNESCO on August 6. “Avoiding any act that reveals damage” This place “Pilgrimage, Devotion and Peace”, And asked “All necessary precautionary measures should be taken to prevent attempts to plunder and plunder the cultural properties located in this area.”.