Photographer: Eduardo Soteras / AFP / Getty Images
Photographer: Eduardo Soteras / AFP / Getty Images
The former leader of the Tigray region in Ethiopia vowed to continue a month-long battle with the federal government in a conflict that has displaced hundreds of thousands, killed thousands and threatened to destabilize the Horn of Africa.
“Let our enemies and friends know that until we get our victory we will go nowhere,” said Debretsion Gebremichael, who was president of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. He spoke on a recorded phone interview aired Saturday afternoon on an online TV channel, Dimitsi Weyane.
Several TPLF leaders have been assassinated, including former Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin, and others detained. This is the first time in nearly two months that Debretsion, whom the government is seeking on charges of terrorism and treason, has spoken publicly.
Bloomberg was unable to contact Debretsion independently, but a senior member of the TPLF who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons confirmed that it was him. Thousands of Tigray followers on social media also expressed relief at hearing him speak.
Debretsion called on the people of Tigray to continue the fight with “greater determination and without internal division” and accused Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Amhara forces and Eritrean forces of looting, raping women and killing young men.
Abyy spokeswoman Billene Seyoum did not address the recording immediately.
Federal troops who responded to an alleged attack on November 4 entered the region and overthrew a dissident ruling party that has opposed Abiy since he came to power in April 2018. Although the government went announcing victory on November 28, fighting at Tigray nevertheless continued.