Fugitive leader of Ethiopia’s Tigray issues new call for arms: Audio

The fugitive leader of Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region has reportedly issued a fresh call to his supporters to pick up arms against the federal government, according to an audio message posted online.

“I call upon you, wherever you are ... to organize and fight and to strive to make all who have reached fighting age take up the fight, and through this to shorten the lifespan of the enemy,” Debretsion Gebremichael said in the recording via a media outlet affiliated with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

It was not immediately possible to verify the authenticity of the 20-minute audio message which was posted on Facebook, but it would be the first public statement by Debretsion in nearly two months.

He has been on the run since shortly after fighting broke out in early November between Ethiopian and allied forces and armed militants of the Tigray region.

“They (federal forces) have temporary military dominance,” said the recording, alleging abuses such as rape, torture and looting, reports of which have also been highlighted by the United Nations.

The Tigray leader also called on the international community to investigate what he alleged to be “genocide” in the restive northern region.

He urged Tigray residents to “continue the struggle” and vowed to do the same against those who are “working with all their might to destroy our existence and identity.”

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Early in November, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered military operations targeting leaders of the TPLF, the regional governing party. The move, according to Abiy, was in response to TPLF-orchestrated attacks on federal army camps.

The military operations ended less than a month after it had started. Debretsion and other Tigray leaders fled into hiding in an unknown location.

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Ethiopia

The TPLF had dominated Ethiopian politics for decades. However, after its clout declined after Abiy came to power in 2018.

Since Abiy's arrival, the government has introduced a number of reforms and measures to increase transparency. In its clampdown on corruption, many senior Tigrayan officials were fired and detained by the federal government.

The conflict continues largely in shadow. Some communications links remain down and almost all journalists are blocked. Thousands of people have died.

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