Ethiopia's military is planning to enter the Tigray regional capital of Mekelle and "eliminate" rebellious forces, a top military official said late on Friday amid diplomatic efforts to end conflict in the country's north. The Horn of Africa country has been gripped by war for more than a year, with the federal military and its allies battling forces loyal to the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the political party that controls Tigray. The TPLF's spokesman, Getachew Reda, could not be reached for a comment on the military official's remarks. TPLF forces control most of Tigray but are surrounded by hostile forces from neighbouring regions of Afar and Amhara which are allied with the federal military. In recent months there have been multiple diplomatic and political efforts to end it, including pressure from the United States.

Source: Ethiopian News January 22, 2022 14:40 UTC