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Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed received at his office this morning former President of Liberia Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, former President of Mozambique Joaquim Chissano, and former President of South Africa Kgalema Motlanthe – the designated Special Envoys of Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa and Chairperson of the African Union.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expressed his profound gratitude to the African Union Chairperson, President Cyril Ramaphosa for the utmost concern and understanding shared in Ethiopia’s efforts to end impunity and bring the TPLF criminal clique to justice.

According to Prime Minister Office, the premier also appreciated the Special Envoys for their visit to Ethiopia, in elderly concern, reiterating the well-meaning endeavors of African brothers and sisters who are equally hopeful for a prosperous and stable Ethiopia.

Ethiopia appreciates this gesture and for the steadfast commitment this demonstrates to the principle of African solution to African problems, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed noted.

During the discussions, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed briefed the Special Envoys on the background to Ethiopia’s rule of law operations currently underway in the Tigray region.

The Prime Minister discussed at length the patience with which his government handled the provocations and destabilization agenda the TPLF orchestrated for more than two years. Recounting the numerous attempts by the federal government to engage peacefully, he reiterated that the premeditated attack on the Northern Command of the Ethiopian National Defense Force, which constitutes high treason under the Criminal Code of Ethiopia, was the final straw which forced the federal government to act in protection of the constitutional order of the country.

Prime Minister Abiy expressed the Federal Government’s constitutionally mandated responsibility to enforce rule of law in the region and across the country. Failure to do so would nurture a culture of impunity with devasting cost to the survival of the country, he emphasized.

During the discussions with the Special Envoys, Prime Minister Abiy Anmed further reiterated:

• The Federal government’s utmost commitment to the protection and security of civilians during the rule of law operations, demonstrated in the National Defense Force’s avoidance to engage in combat within cities and densely populated areas, by weathering rough terrain instead;
• Establishment of high-level committee of Federal stakeholders to assess and respond to essential humanitarian needs of citizens in the region;
• Identification and announcement of a humanitarian assistance route for the provision of necessary relief materials to citizens in the region coordinated through the Ministry of Peace in collaboration with UN agencies;
• Readiness of the federal government to receive, rehabilitate and resettle citizens that have fled, by setting up four camps established to rehabilitate returnees before resettling them back into their original locales;
• Efforts underway to operationalize the constitutionally established and multi-party Provisional Administration of Tigray, in towns and cities under Federal command to enable provision of government services;
• Determination to apprehend and bring to justice the TPLF clique and their operatives who also perpetrated the grave crimes against humanity in Maikadra;
• Commitment to rebuild public infrastructure destroyed by TPLF militia, including communication facilities;
• Unwavering commitment of federal government to create a democratic Ethiopia that is inclusive of all without domination or repression of one group by another.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed also underscored his immense gratitude to friends of Ethiopia who are engaging constructively during the federal government’s rule of law operations and expressed his commitment to dialogue with civil society and community representatives in the Regional State of Tigray as well as political parties operating legally within the region.

The federal government once again expresses its gratitude to President Cyril Rampahosa and the esteemed African elders and Special Envoys that imparted their wisdom, insights and readiness to support in any way they are needed.

In a statement issued today, Prime Minister Office indicates that the Federal Government is committed to responding to the needs of citizens in the Tigray Region expeditiously.

In partnership with the relevant agencies, the government will continue to extend protection and humanitarian assistance to those in need, the office said.

Following a technical committee assessment of needs on the ground conducted over the past week, the humanitarian support to internally displaced Ethiopians in the Tigray Region is being extended through the coordination of the Ministry of Peace and other Federal stakeholders, it is indicated on the statement.

Accordingly, distribution of initial supplies of food, medicine, clean water, and non-food items have begun in areas that are under the control of the Federal government, addressing the basic needs of displaced citizens currently in camps outside of their locales.

The committee is also overseeing the establishment of four camp sites to begin receiving and supporting citizens that have fled, before voluntarily returning them to their communities.

Based on the assessment conducted by the technical committees, the need for daily subsistence support for vulnerable communities has also been identified and the distribution of core relief items will start until life returns to normal.

This humanitarian assistance will now be further reinforced with the opening of a humanitarian access route to be managed under the auspices of the Ministry of Peace.

The government stands ready to support all Ethiopians that have fled to return to their communities and is committed to work with UN agencies and other humanitarian organizations to protect civilians and help those who need it, the statement indicated.

Demeke Mekonnen, Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs met with David Quarrey, the UK Prime Minister’s International Affairs Adviser and Deputy National Security Adviser.

Demeke on the occasion said the TPLF clique caused massive damage on the people and the government of Ethiopia, while the country is undergoing promising reforms.

Accordingly, the ongoing strong law enforcement operation in Tigray regional state is aimed at preventing further damages and bringing perpetrators to justice, he said.

Quarrey for his part said the stability of Ethiopia has a significant contribution for the stability of the region and UK wants the country to be a guardian of peace in the region.

He also stressed the need to give protection to civilians and allow access to humanitarian relief for people in need.

Demeke said Ethiopia will wrap up the operation shortly by giving utmost protection for civilians and facilitating access to humanitarian assistance for people in need.

Demeke also met with Dominic Raab, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of UK for a briefing about the situation in Tigray regional state.

He gave reassurance to Rabb that the Government together with the international agencies is working tirelessly to address the humanitarian situations with more humanitarian corridors opening up to reach those in need of humanitarian assistance.

Efforts are also under way to support those refugees who fled to Sudan to return and settle peacefully in their home country said Demeke adding that accessibility won’t be much of an issue now that more areas are liberated from the hands of the TPLF junta.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has announced the commencement of the final phase of the rule of law operations in Tigray regional state.

His announcement came following the end of the 72-hour deadline granted to the criminal TPLF clique to surrender peacefully to the National Defence Forces.

Taking advantage of the 72-hour deadline, thousands of Tigray Special Forces and militia members have surrendered to the National Defence Force, said the Prime Minister in a statement this morning.

Many young people in Tigray, realizing the TPLF’s evil intentions, have also refrained from engaging in TPLF’s destructive ambitions, he indicated.

“Although this may have been a decision taken in the last hours, it is nevertheless a responsible decision that is expected of citizens,” the Prime Minister stated.

He said the 72-hours deadline was issued by the federal government to demonstrate that the intention of the operations is to enforce the rule of law per the laws of the land.

“If the criminal TPLF clique chose to peacefully surrender, the campaign would have been finalized with the least amount of damage. To this end, we have provided the opportunity for peaceful surrender on numerous occasions in the past weeks,” he said.

Moreover, the objective of the deadline was to provide protection for those that finally understand the criminality of the TPLF clique and distance themselves for the group, the Prime Minister stated.

He said the last peaceful gate which had remained open for the TPLF clique to walk through have now been firmly closed as a result of TPLF’s contempt for the people of Ethiopia.

However, he said “thousands of members of the Tigray militia and Special Forces that have come to realize the destructive nature of TPLF have utilized the gates of peace and surrendered peacefully.”

“The Ethiopian National Defence Forces have now been directed to conclude the third and final phase of our rule of law operations,” PM Abiy said.

According to the Prime Minister, great care will be given to protect innocent civilians from harm during the final phase of law enforcement operation.

He said “all efforts will be made to ensure that the city of Mekelle, which was built through the hard work of our people, will not be severely damaged.”

“All precautions will be taken to ensure that heritage sites, places of worship, public facilities, development institutions and residential areas will not be targets.

The Prime Minister also called on the people of Mekelle and its environs to disarm, stay at home and stay away from military targets, and take all necessary precautions.

He also urged them to do their part in reducing damages to be sustained because of a handful of criminal TPLF elements, by exposing and handing over the criminal clique over to law enforcement agents.

The Prime Minister assured the people that the National Defence Forces have carefully devised a strategy to bring the TPLF criminal clique to justice, without harming innocent civilians, heritage sites, places of worship, development institutions and property.