Ethiopian PM turned down offer from EAC country to send fighters to help against rebels, source claims  

ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed had reportedly turned down an offer from an East African country in 2021 to send fighters to help in the fight against then advancing Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) rebels, a senior security official who is aware of the offer said.

Fighting occurred in the northern region of Tigray after armed elements belonging to the TPLF attempted to disarm federal army’s northern command. The government in Addis Ababa then sent in troops in a campaign dubbed as ‘law enforcement operation’ capturing Tigray capital Mekelle in days.

But in a matter of a few months, Tigray rebels advanced following an abrupt withdrawal from federal army forces and their Amhara and Afar regional allies, threatening to capture the capital Addis Ababa sparking fears among diplomatic missions for fall of Addis Ababa.

Speaking to Sudans Post this afternoon, a security source that refused not to be identified said one of the East African countries then offered to send in troops to Ethiopia to fight alongside the federal forces, but then Prime Minister Ahmed turned down that offer.

“You know us in Ethiopia and as Ethiopians we depend on ourselves. The news that there are foreign fighters in this country is just propaganda to derail the peaceful end to this conflict because the federal government and the federal army is for peaceful end to the conflict,” the security source said.

“Let me tell you, in August last year, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed got an offer from an East African country to send troops to  Ethiopia to help when the rebels captured some areas in Afar and Amhara region. This is because that country that I do not want to name was concerned about Ethiopian fate of these terrorist entered Addis Ababa. The PM refused that offer and he went to the frontline himself and beat them. So, there are no foreign fighters fighting alongside our forces against the TPLF,” he added.