War breaks out in Ethiopia as TPLF attacks Defense Forces in Tigray region
November 4, 2020 (Thessherald)–Deadly conflict has broken out in Ethiopia in the early hours of November 4, 2020, after the “Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) attacked the Ethiopian National Defense Forces Base located in Tigray region and attempted to rob the northern command of artillery and military equipment.”
“The Northern command has been stationed in the Tigray region for more than two decades in service and protection of the people of Tigray from any threats. It is to be recalled that in the past few weeks the TPLF has been arming and organizing irregular militias outside of the constitutionally mandated structure. The attack on the Northern Command has been premised on TPLF viewing the Ethiopian National Defense Forces as a foreign army rather than an army that has been protecting the people of Tigray for more than twenty years,” said the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in a statement.
The Ethiopian leader, Abiy accused the
Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) of instigating provocative activities in the region.
“Resultantly, TPLF has chosen to wage war in Dalshah. Over the past months of continued provocation and incitement for violence by TPLF, the Federal Government has maintained a policy of extreme patience and caution in order to avoid any harm that such provocations would cause the people of Tigray. In addition to Federal government provocation, the TPLF through Almeda Plc – a textiles manufacturing company based in the region – have been manufacturing military outfits resembling that of the Eritrean National Defense Forces, to implicate the Eritrean government in false claims of aggression against the people of Tigray.”
“While the Federal government has used all means to thwart a military engagement against the TPLF, a war however cannot be prevented only on the goodwill and decision of one side, but on the mutual choice for peace by both parties. The last red line has been crossed with this morning’s attacks and the Federal government is therefore forced into a military confrontation.”
“The Ethiopian National Defense Forces, under the direction of a Command Post, have been ordered to carry out their mission to save the country and the region from spiraling into instability. The Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, calls upon the Ethiopian people to remain calm, to be vigilant in the face of possible harassment, and to stand by our National Defense Forces in this critical time.”