Ethiopia vows to disarm, punish TPLF to “full force of the law”

JUBA – The government of Ethiopia has vowed to bring rebel Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) to justice, a day after federal forces announced that they have entered the Tigray region following TPLF defeat by the federal forces from Amhara and Afar regions.

Earlier this week, rebel chief Debretsion Gebremichael said in a statement that TPLF forces would retreat north from Afar and Amhara to create what he calls an ‘opening of peace’.

But the Ethiopian federal forces and their regional allies said the rebel group was defeated and days later, the government announced the capture of a strategic city inside the Tigray region.

In a tweet, Ethiopian permanent representative to the United Nations Taye Atske Selassie vowed that the Tigray People’s Liberation Front will be disarmed and held accountable for the crimes that they have committed against the Ethiopians.

“Peace is a reward for Ethiopia resilience,” Amb. Taye said.

“No amount of lies and excuses that may evade TPLF’s culpability against Ethiopia. TPLF will be disarmed and be accountable to the full force of the law,” he added.

The Ethiopian diplomat further stressed in the tweet that “The promise of peace is in reconciliation between all Ethiopians who respect and abide by the rule of law.”