Missiles from the northern Ethiopian region of Tigray hit the Eritrean capital Asmara on Saturday, say diplomats and witnesses in the capital. The internal conflict in northern Ethiopia thus appears to be spreading beyond state borders.
“According to the reports we are getting now, several missiles have landed near the airport of the capital,” said a diplomat. Several witnesses also heard explosions. International news agencies have not yet confirmed the missile attacks.
Northern Ethiopia is currently the scene of a conflict between the Ethiopian government and the well-armed local government of the Tigray State, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). TPLF accuses the government of calling in military aid from Eritrea, something Ethiopia denies.
Getachew Reda, a senior member of the TPLF, earlier on Saturday threatened retaliation in the form of “missile attacks” on Asmara and the Eritrean port city of Massawa. It is unknown how many missiles have been fired and the extent of the damage.
Hundreds of victims of conflict in northern Ethiopia
Thursday made Amnesty International announced that on November 9, dozens, and probably hundreds of civilians were killed in an attack in the Ethiopian city of May Cadera.
The human rights organization was not yet able to designate a person responsible for the attack. Witnesses claim that troops loyal to the local government of Tigray are responsible for the attack, but this has not yet been confirmed.
TPLF has been at odds with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed since he took power in 2018. Tensions between the two parties grew after the TPLF organized local elections in September against the will of the federal government.
It is still unclear how many victims have been killed by the conflict so far. According to sources and local media, hundreds have now been killed.
Experts warn that chaos in Ethiopia could have major consequences for all of Northeast Africa and also trigger new refugee flows to Europe. This week fled more than ten thousand Ethiopians have traveled to neighboring Sudan.
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