ADDIS ABABA: 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. In an interview with state-affiliated media outlet Fana broadcast late on Friday, Ethiopian Defence Forces (EDF) deputy army chief General Abebaw Tadesse said the country would not be at peace until the TPLF was eliminated. “The people of Ethiopia shouldn’t think that it is over, it is not over. We will not negotiate with them.”The TPLF’s spokesperson, Getachew Reda, could not be reached for a comment on the military official’s remarks.

Source: Ethiopian News January 23, 2022 00:52 UTC