A state of emergency has been declared in Ethiopia’s northern region of Tigray today two days after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed urged citizens to take up arms to defend themselves from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front -TPLF.
Earlier today Tuesday, authorities in Addis Ababa have told residents to register their arms and prepare to defend their neighbourhoods after the TPLF claimed it has captured several towns in recent days and that it is considering marching on Addis Ababa, about 380 km (235 miles) to the south of their forward positions.
Citizens were also told to gather in their locality to safeguard their surroundings while conducting a House-to-house search to arrest troublemakers.
The government also told those who have weapons but can’t take part in safeguarding their surroundings to hand over their weapon to the government or their close relatives or friends who are willing to participate in the safe-guiding exercise.
The governments of four of Ethiopia’s 10 regions have also called upon Ethiopians to mobilize to fight against the Tigrayan forces which had started to fight the government since the night of Nov. 3, 2020, when forces loyal to the TPLF – including some soldiers – seized military bases in Tigray.
Ethiopia last imposed such a measure in February 2018 for six months ahead of the transition of power to Abiy. Curfews were enforced and people’s movements restricted, while thousands of people were detained.
Abiy’s relations with the TPLF soured after he was accused of centralizing power at the expense of Ethiopia’s regional states – an accusation he has denied.
