Top Eritrean army general allegedly fired for suggesting withdrawal from northern Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA – A senior Eritrean army general has allegedly been fired by President Isaias Afwerki after reportedly suggesting end to the Eritrean army presence in northern parts of the Ethiopian region, a security source told Sudans Post in Addis Ababa.

The unnamed member of the Eritrean army command was reportedly removed late in January by President Isaias when the president could not be convinced for the reasons suggested by the army officer that warrant withdrawal from northern Ethiopia.

“As you know there has been an armed force from Eritrea and this general suggested, according to information we heard, that the presence of Eritrean forces in Tigray and some parts of Afar was not necessary,” the security source who requested not to be named said.

“It is at this point that President Isaias who is not convinced of the many reasons given by the general, that I don’t know what are they, decided to replace him with a junior officer whom he promoted to the rank of major-general,” the security source added.

Eritrea government had dispatched thousands of its forces to fight alongside the Ethiopian federal forces against the rebellious Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) when the conflict initiated in November 2020.

Under United States and international pressure, Eritrea was forced to return its forces to its territories, but thousands more of the Eritrean forces remained in northern Ethiopia despite government claims in Asmara that it does not have forces in Ethiopia.

Last week, TPLF chairman Debretsion Gebremichael said he was in informal talks with the government of Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed to possibly reach a ceasefire with him, but sets several preconditions including the withdrawal of Eritrean and other foreign forces.