Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed gave Tigrayan regional forces 72 hours to surrender before the military begins an offensive on the regional capital of Mekelle….
“We urge you to surrender peacefully within 72 hours, recognising that you are at the point of no return,” Abiy said in a message posted on Twitter on Sunday evening.
Tigrayan forces could not immediately be reached for comment.
A military spokesman said earlier that advancing Ethiopian troops plan to surround Mekelle with tanks and may shell the city to force surrender.
Human Rights Watch calls the threat by Ethiopian military spokesperson of an artillery attack to citizens in Mekelle who do not surrender unlawful and targeting the whole city together a collective punishment; US Ambassador Susan Rice qualifies this as war crime.
- Fighting in the Tigray region is ongoing on three fronts, Adwa, Gerhu Sirnay and in the South (Raya). Heavy losses reported.
- It is reported that possibly up to 20 battalions of the Eritrean Defence Force (EDF) are taking part in the fighting on all three fronts.
- Ethiopian Military issued a statement saying that the ENDF holds Dansha, Humera, Shire, Dhiraro, Aksum, Adwa, Adigrat, Alamata, Chercher, Mehoni, Korem and other places. According to the TPLF, the Ethiopian, Eritrean and Amharic forces are moving through these cities but are not holding all of them.
- Journalists indicate that access to Tigray is nearly impossible and that foreigners risk hostilities and violence if they go. Access to and operating in Addis Ababa is also becoming increasingly difficult with difficulties experienced in obtaining visas.
- International Crisis Group journalist and expert Davison confirms from his home that his working permit in Ethiopia was revoked and that he was informed he immediately had to leave the country.
- South Sudanese activists indicate that they were summoned to the Ethiopian embassy in South Sudan to answer questions regarding a statement in which they expressed concern over possible withdrawal of Ethiopian peacekeeping troops.
