Amhara state in Ethiopia recruits more youths, vows to crush TDF in Tigray

Agenegnehu Teshager, Amhara State President during a presser. Screengrab

NAIROBI, Kenya - The conflict in Ethiopia seems to be getting out of control as Amhara regional forces rallied more youths to join as it strategizes to battle with Tigray Defense Forces [TDF] which is closing in the north as it redeems its strongholds.

Amhara state called on young people to join the regional army, arguing that they will help in crushing Tigrayan fighters who are battling the federal government military and forces from all of Ethiopia's other nine regions.

For the last three weeks, Tigray Defense Forces have been making inroads in Amhara territories and parts of Afar, after seizing Mekelle, the regional administrative capital of Tigray. The Amhara troops have been also plotting a major comeback.

"I call on all young people, militia, non-militia in the region, armed with any government weapon, armed with personal weapons, to join the anti-TDF war mission from tomorrow," Agegnehu Teshager, president of Amhara regional government was quoted as saying by the region's state media.

Calls to TDF spokesman Getachew Reda, for a comment, were not answered, Voice of America reported.

The TDF had earlier promised to flush out Amhara regional forces and the federal troops who were engaged in the Tigray war which left thousands dead and millions displaced. TDF has since reorganized itself for an onslaught against what they call "aggression".

In November 2020, the government troops backed by Amhara regional forces and those from Eritrea pushed TDF outside Mekelle before declaring victory. However, the government withdrew in July but TDF maintains that the ENDF lost ground.

This week, the Tigrayans pushed their offensive to Afar, their neighboring state to the east, where they said they planned to target troops from the Amhara region fighting alongside the federal military in the area.

Afar is a strategic region for landlocked Ethiopia because the main road and railway linking the capital, Addis Ababa, with the seaport of Djibouti runs through it.

On Saturday, Amhara's special forces commander, Brigadier General Tefera Mamo, was quoted by the region's state media as saying the war had expanded to the state.

"The terrorist group has started a war in the Amhara and Afar regions and is also harassing Ethiopians," Tefera said, referring to TDF. "Amhara Special Forces are fighting in coordination with other security forces."

Thousands of people have died in the fighting, around 2 million have been displaced and more than 5 million rely on emergency food aid.

GAROWE ONLINE