A few hours after the Ethiopian government announced a ” indefinite humanitarian truce », the Tigrayan rebels of the TPLF undertake in turn to cease hostilities. A positive signal, but which does not necessarily mean the immediate return of humanitarian aid to the region.
With our regional correspondent in Nairobi, Florence Morice
TPFL’s response is a step in the right direction. In their press release issued this Friday morning, the rebels of Tigray in fact undertake in turn to ” enforce » « a cessation of hostilities, effective immediately “. So in response to the truce unlimited » announced Thursday by Addis Ababa. Statements supposed at first sight to allow a return of humanitarian aid in Tigray, under blockade since last December.
But there is still a tricky equation to solve. In addition to a ceasefire, Addis Ababa expects Tigrayan rebels to withdraw their troops from the neighboring Afar region. This was assured by the Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs.
However, the TPFL does not respond to this point in its press release. On the contrary, he asks the Ethiopian government to ” take concrete steps to facilitate unrestricted access to Tigray and seem to make it a prerequisite before a withdrawal, according to diplomatic sources. Especially since last December, already in the hope of rapid humanitarian aid for Tigray, the TPLF had backed down. Gold that help did not arrive.