Ethiopian military takes control of three towns in Tigray

By Nathan Morley

The Ethiopian military has taken control of three towns from rebel forces in the northern Tigray region.

The gains come amid growing alarm about the resurgent conflict pitting federal forces and their allies against Tigrayan rebels.

Earlier, the Ethiopian National Defence Force took control of the towns of Shire, Alamata and Korem without fighting in urban areas.

Earlier this week, the head of the African Union called for an immediate ceasefire in the region.

Moussa Faki Mahamat urged the resumption of humanitarian services. At the same time, U.S. development agency USAID chief Samantha Power joined the call for the joint offensive by Ethiopian federal forces and Eritrean Defence Forces (EDF) to stop.

Ethiopian government forces have been involved in fighting with Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) rebels since late 2020.

Over the last two years, the conflict has killed thousands of civilians and displaced millions.

AU-led peace talks were expected to take place in South Africa, but no date has been fixed for the meeting after it was postponed, ostensibly do to logistical problems.

The Tigray region has been largely isolated since the war broke out leaving over five million people without electricity, phone, and internet services.