The Ethiopian army has claimed the capture of the regional capital Mekele, the last remaining stronghold of the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) whose insurgents have been waging a three-week conflict against federal troops.
The Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian Defence Force, Berhanu Jula in a briefing on Saturday announced the end of the fighting after the national defence force captured Mekele, capital of Tigray.
The TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael said his troops are putting up stiff resistance outside Mekele and vowed to continue to fight on despite being outnumbered.
He said the TPLF is fighting on three fronts, engaging Ethiopian federal battalions, Eritrean troops and Amhara special forces.
The Ethiopian government has dismissed these claims, saying the TPLF stronghold has fallen in to the hands of federal troops.
The army chief said the military victory belongs to all Ethiopians especially ordinary Tigrayans after their “liberation from the clutches of the oppressive TPLF junta”.
General Birhanu claimed federal troops have taken full control of Mekele after a successful military offensive was executed without causing collateral damage to the city.
According to the army chief, the leadership of the TPLF will be brought to justice in the shortest possible time as part of the federal government’s final law enforcement operation.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed also issued a statement expressing gratitude to the people of Tigray for what he called their cooperation with the National Defence Forces during the law enforcement exercise.
“I am pleased to share that we have completed and ceased the military operations in the Tigray region. “
The government’s main focus now will be the rebuilding of the Tigray region, providing humanitarian assistance and rounding up the TPLF renegades, the premier stressed.
The Prime Minister stated that the federal government is now fully in control of Mekelle, adding “with full command of the regional capital, this marks the completion of the Ethiopian National Defence Force’s last phase.”
Federal police will now continue their mopping up operation to apprehend TPLF loyalists and bringing them to justice, Abiy added.
MG/abj/APA