Ethiopia Downplays War Fears While Country Descends into Chaos

By Staff, Agencies

Ethiopia's Nobel-winning leader said Monday his nation was not descending into "chaos" despite a military offensive against the restive Tigray region where air strikes and fighting have killed at least half a dozen people in recent days.

Meanwhile, the flare-up in the northern region bordering Eritrea and Sudan has brought fears of civil war in Africa's second most populous nation where ethnic conflict has killed hundreds since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office in 2018.

"Ethiopia is grateful for friends expressing their concern. Our rule of law operation is aimed at guaranteeing peace and stability once and for all by bringing perpetrators of instability to justice," he tweeted on Monday.

"Concerns that Ethiopia will descend into chaos are unfounded and a result of not understanding our context deeply."

The 44-year-old, who is the continent's youngest leader, won the Nobel Peace Prize last year for democratic reforms following years of repressive government and for making peace with Eritrea after a border war that had killed tens of thousands.

But the conflict in Tigray threatens national stability.

Last week Abiy, who comes from Ethiopia's largest ethnic group the Oromo, launched a military campaign saying forces loyal to Tigrayan leaders had attacked a military base and attempted to steal equipment.

The Tigrayans account for just 5 percent of Ethiopians but had, before Abiy's rule, dominated politics since rebels from their ethnic group toppled Marxist military rule in 1991.

Federal government fighter jets have in recent days been bombing targets including arms depots in Tigray. Aid workers Sunday reported heavy fighting between troops loyal to each side, with at least six dead and dozens wounded.

A military official in Amhara told Reuters that clashes with Tigrayan forces in Kirakir, near the border between the regions of Tigray and Amhara, Thursday had killed dozens on both sides.