Ethiopian News: Heavy Fighting between Tigray & Amhara fighters

Ethiopian News: Heavy fighting erupted today between Tigray and Amhara militias in a zone contested by the two regions.

Since the start of this month, Tigray and Amhara groups have been flexing military and political muscles in Raya Alamata & Korem, which are disputed between the two sides. Though Pretoria deal signed in November 2022 silenced guns in northern Ethiopia but Tigray-Amhara dispute over disputed territories like Raya Alamata, Wolkait etc is still unresolved.

Around two weeks ago, Amhara provisional government in Raya Alamata accused Tigray of mobilizing its fighters to capture new kebeles. 20-minute long fighting between the two militias was stopped after Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) intervened.

After that, Amhara people of the area, backed by Amhara interim government, took out 2 rallies in Gerjale and Korem and demanded that they wanted to remain part of the Amhara region. Tigray responded by launching counter rallies. Yesterday, Tigrayans marched from Kukuftu to Bertekali. They demanded the withdrawal of Amhara forces from Raya Alamata etc.

Today Tigrayans marched in Maychew asking federal government to expel Amhara forces and handover the area to Tigray.

Amhara groups accuse Tigray of bringing in armed fighters in the guise of protesters in Raya Alamata. Tigray denies the allegations, saying that the rallies were taken out by Tigrayan IDPs expelled from Raya Alamata. Read more…

The latest clashes erupted in Berteklaiy and Tao. Both are situated in Raya Alamata. On Saturday, Tigray and Amhara fighters exchanged gunfire in Birteklaiy which is situated on the main road linking Alamata with Mehoni. The clashes subsided in the evening.

Today heavy fighting resumed in Berteklay. Reports are coming in from Tao too that heavy exchange of gunfire involving heavy machineguns and mortars is underway.

Ethiopian Federal government last year proposed a 4-stage solution to break the deadlock between Tigray and Amhara regions. The solution includes disarming of Amhara militias, return of IDPs, installation of elected administration and holding of referendum. No considerable progress has been made to implement the solution so far.

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