Ethiopian Ambassador speaks out on conflict in Tigray region

ETHIOPIA   DIPLOMACY   

KAMPALA - The Ethiopian Ambassador to Uganda, Alemtsehay Meseret has said that her government will soon restore law and order in the Tigray region. She said most parts have already been brought back to normal life.

Addressing journalists from the Embassy in Kampala over the weekend she said the operation in the Tigray has three clear objectives. They include disarming Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) fighters and destroying their military equipment. She added that the second objective is to bring the perpetrators to justice.

"The operation will hold the criminals who caused an attack to the defence force as well as used Tigray as a safe haven to escape charges of terrorism, torture, extra-judicial executions, and corruption accountable," She said.

Thirdly the operation is intended at restoring a legitimate administration to Tigray region. Meseret said a decision to put an interim administration was passed by the House of Federation.

"The Council of Ministers adopted a regulation concerning the provisional administration of the Tigray National Regional State and a chief executive appointed to it," she said.

TPLF attacked the Northern Command of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces on November 4, 2020. This made the Federal government intervene on grounds that it was upholding the rule of law in the region.

The fighting which has sent thousands fleeing over the border into Sudan has sparked fears of civil war and concerns that it could spread across the region.

President Yoweri Museveni last week met with Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister, Demeke Mekonnen Hassen and his delegation to discuss issues of peace and security.

"Our discussion focused on the peace and security issues affecting Ethiopia currently. Being one of the oldest countries that was not colonised in Africa, Ethiopia is the pride of the continent.

Africa's problem is that we never discuss ideology, focusing so much on diplomacy. I totally disagree with politics that focus on ethnic federalism.

We must emphasise the issue of oneness and common interests because it is the only way we can prosper," Museveni posted on his social media platforms after the meeting.

On the visit; the Ambassador dismissed some media claims that the visit was intended at requesting Museveni to mediate into the conflict.

"The claim was false. The visit was part of high-level visits to leaders of neighbouring, Nile Basin and Great Lakes countries in order to explain the ongoing law enforcement operation in Tigray and to convey messages of our Prime Minister as well as for discussions of other bilateral issues," she explained.