Europe External Programme with Africa is a Belgium-based Centre of Expertise with in-depth knowledge, publications, and networks, specialised in issues of peace building, refugee protection and resilience in the Horn of Africa. EEPA has published extensively on issues related to movement and/or human trafficking of refugees in the Horn of Africa and on the Central Mediterranean Route. It cooperates with a wide network of Universities, research organisations, civil society and experts from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda and across Africa. The situation reports can be found here.
Reported war situation in Tigray (as confirmed per 25 February)
– An official with the Tigray’s region provisional administration told state media that troops from a “neighbouring country” destroyed factories and universities during the conflict in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray state, apparently referring to Eritrea.
– Alula Habteab, who heads the provisional administration’s Construction, Road and Transport Bureau, appeared to openly criticise soldiers from Eritrea, as well as the neighbouring Amhara region, for their actions during the conflict.
– “There were armies from a neighbouring country and a neighbouring region who wanted to take advantage of the war’s objective of law enforcement,” he told the state media.
– According to the official, troops from across the border had destroyed major factories in Tigray, such as the Almeda Textile and Adigrat pharmaceuticals factories, and two major universities in Adigrat and Axum. “These forces have inflicted more damage than the war itself,” added the official.
– He also accused the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) of having “seized numerous properties” which belong to the Tigray state government, including many machineries which belong to private contractors. “Universities and factories Tigray produced over the last 30 years have all been destroyed,” says the official.
– In a letter addressed to the editor of DEVEX and EU observer, the Ethiopian Embassy in Brussels states it is regrettable that the statement and facts given by Mr. Pekka Haavisto about the situation in Ethiopia does not reflect the reality on the ground and contains unsubstantiated claims.
– The letter added the Ethiopian government was willing to facilitate travel to the region for the Foreign Minister to have first-hand account, however, Minister Haavisto showed no interest to travel to the region, but instead resorted to visit the refugee camp in Sudan and “extrapolate grossly inadequate information” to provide unfolded claims that put unnecessary pressure on the Ethiopian government.
– The letter posted on the official website of the Embassy says the assertion made by the Minister stating: “You have come to a situation which is militarily and human rights-wise, humanitarian-wise very out of control,” does not reflect, by any means whatsoever, the tangible progress being registered thus far.
– “The Minister’s inaccurate narrative does not also go along with the testimonies given by officials from different international humanitarian organizations operating in the region” says the letter issued by the Embassy.
– The letter also says the Foreign Minister’s assertion that: “The government themselves do not have a clear picture, particularly in areas controlled by Eritreans” is what one would not expect from a person in the high office and representing the European Union. “Such a statement is by far an erroneous claim and at best a condescending view towards Ethiopia,” added the Embassy.
– Amnesty International (AI) report says between 19 and 29 Nov. 2020, Eritrean troops operating in Aksum, Tigray, committed a series of human rights and humanitarian law violations, including killing hundreds of civilians.
– “Over an approximately 24-hour period on 28 – 29 Nov. 2020, Eritrean soldiers deliberately shot civilians on the street and carried out systematic house-to-house searches, extrajudicially executing men and boys,” says the AI report
– The report also says that :”In the immediate aftermath of the massacre, Eritrean troops shot at those who sought to remove bodies from the streets”.
– Reported that the rape victims in Ayder Referal and Mekelle hospitals are being forcefully evacuated following the arrival of international media institutions.
– Reports of air strikes in Samre, Yechilay and Temben areas by Ethiopian allied air force.
– According to multiple sources, the ancient Monastery of Maryam Qaretsa, near Samre town was bombed by ENDF allied forces. The fate of over 100 monks in the monastery remains unknown.
– Satellite imagery shows that 508 buildings have been burned down near Gijet town last week.
– DX Open Network analysis says that this indicates that it was part of an intentional effort, rather than combat operations.
– According to the Africa Report, the conflict in Tigray has had a significant impact on the Ethiopian economy. The currency has inflated by 19% and the IMF projected GDP growth for 2020 has been re-adjusted to 0%. In comparison, the economy grew by 10% last year.
Situation in the Horn Region(as confirmed per 25 February)
– Sudan Tribune says Eritrea has distanced itself from the ongoing border tensions between Sudan and Ethiopia and called for an amicable solution to the dispute.
Reported international situation (as confirmed per 25 February)
– The United States says it remains deeply concerned by Eritrean troops in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, and by credible reports that they are committing grave human rights abuses and forcibly returning Eritrean refugees to Eritrea.
– “We urge Eritrea to withdraw its troops immediately from Ethiopia’s Tigray region, and to investigate and hold accountable those responsible for human rights abuses,” says the U.S. statement at the Human Rights Council.
– The UN Special rapporteur on the Human RIghts situation in Eritrea has addressed the UN Human Rights Council. He said that he had received credible reports and first hand accounts of “allegations of grave human rights and humanitarian law violations, including extra judicial killings, targeted abductions and forced return of Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers to Eritrea, allegedly by Eritrean forces.”
– He also called for an independent investigation into the refugee camps attacks and the potential kidnapping of Eritrean refugees.
– He has also said that he has requested access to Eritrean asylum seekers and migrants which would be in Eritrean prisons. He has not received a response to previous requests to visit Eritrea and assess the Human Rights situation there.
– The Special Rapporteur has not seen any improvements in Human Rights or the Rule of Law in Eritrea.
– The Eritrean Ambassador has dismissed the report as unjustified and senseless.
– Ethiopians living in the U.S. gather near the White House in Washington, DC in protest to end the ongoing conflict in the Tigray region.
Disclaimer: All information in this situation report is presented as a fluid update report, as to the best knowledge and understanding of the authors at the moment of publication. EEPA does not claim that the information is correct but verifies to the best of ability within the circumstances. Publication is weighed on the basis of interest to understand potential impacts of events (or perceptions of these) on the situation. Check all information against updates and other media. EEPA does not take responsibility for the use of the information or impact thereof. All information reported originates from third parties and the content of all reported and linked information remains the sole responsibility of these third parties. Report to info@eepa.be any additional information and corrections.
Links of interest
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-conflict-fires-idUSKBN2AP196
https://sudantribune.com/spip.php?article70513
https://news.yahoo.com/tigray-official-slams-damage-troops-152009648.html?guccounter=1
Martin Plaut 
According to reports gathered by experts , financial incentives have led to extra-judicial killings of innocent unarmed people in Tigray .Those incentives are made by Abiy, hell bent on committing an ethnic cleansing in Tigray supported by UAE drones and its investment made in Ethioipia.
“Legal impunity… combined with the policy of cash rewards is likely to continue to lead to staged war crimes and genocide in Tigray in which innocent civilians are killed, factories, schools, monasteries,private houses are burned down and severly damaged.
All these crimes are committed under the disguise of military operation and after the declaration made by the state media marking the culmination of the military operation to arrest TPLF leaders whom we elect .
There is no doubt that UAE played ahuge role in this massive destruction . If ENDF and Eritrean force were not supported by UAE drones and its financial aide , they couldn’t have left so much damage in our land.
To put it in a layman’s terms, once the drones destroyed the military equipments we had and ENDF and eritrean thugs were able to do the task left just as Sudanese army made its way to conduct the miltary operation to clear the area occupied by the illegal amara officials .
To sum up, UAE had perpetrated an enormous crime in Tigray and facilitate and opened teh way for ENDF and EDF(Eritrean dark forces) to massacre our people by detsroying our military capacity uisng its drones. HOwever, The world is still silent and unwilling to condemn UAE ???? what happen ?? we gonna get the hang of it soon;