Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said that foreign troops are taking part in the ongoing war on the side of the Tigrayan forces to overthrow the government in Addis Ababa.
He made the remark on Monday during a ministerial meeting after the rebel Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) took control of two strategic towns – Dessie and Kombolcha in Amhara regional state.
The rebel forces are advancing to the capital along one of the three fronts while government troops have been retreating all the way from Mekelle, capital of the Tigray regional state.
Residents of Debre Birhan city have closed the road leading to Addis Ababa when hundreds of Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) soldiers entered the city following a disagreement with the military leadership.
The soldiers refused to return to Wollo to fight against the TPLF forces and transferred their weapons to Debre Birhan militia, sources have confirmed to APA.
Ahmed did not mention about the nationality of the foreign fighters aiding the TPLF forces but information is circulating that foreign fighters had Egypt’s and Sudan’s nationalities.
He said the government identified bodies of the non- Ethiopian fighters following the recent air strikes it conducted against the rebel forces.
There are reports that TPLF forces are now looting resources from those towns mainly from the industrial parks.
The increased fighting has deepened an already dire humanitarian catastrophe. Millions of people living in TPLF controlled areas in Amhara regional state reportedly are facing famine-like situations.
MG/APA