Ethiopian government defends actions in Tigray Region, accuses critics of ‘orchestrated attack’

Ethiopia is facing a raft of intense scrutiny over its actions in Tigray. Thousands of civilians are believed to have been killed and displaced since November, when Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched a major military operation against Tigray’s ruling party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), sending in national troops and militia fighters from Ethiopia’s Amhara region.

Ethiopia’s government previously denied allegations of wrongdoing after a CNN investigation in April found that Ethiopian soldiers has executed unarmed men in Tigray.

Ethiopia’s government spokesperson, Billene Seyoum Woldeyes, on Thursday accused critics of launching an “orchestrated attack that is condescending in nature; often patronising in tone; belligerent in approach and destructive in outcome.”

“Over the course of the past months, there have been various efforts on the part of the government to assuage the pain and suffering of its citizens in the region,” Woldeyes said. “While these efforts may have been marred by various challenges given the complexity of any armed engagement, these efforts never the less have been underway and centered on enabling the return of normalcy for our people in Tigray,” she added.

In a statement, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken demanded Eritrea and Ethiopia “take all necessary steps to ensure that their forces in Tigray cease and desist this reprehensible conduct.”