InsiderBLM Africa
Isaias Afwerki, the president of Eritrea, stated on Thursday that claims of rights violations committed by Eritrean troops in Ethiopia’s Tigray region during the two-year war there were “fantasy.”
Isaias responded to inquiries about the presence of Eritrean troops in Ethiopia by saying, “This is a fantasy in the minds of those who are… in this factory I call a factory of fabricating misinformation.” Isaias was speaking to reporters during a visit to Kenya.
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) was fought by Ethiopian forces with support from Eritrea’s army, which has been blamed by the US and human rights organizations for some of the worst atrocities committed during the conflict.
A peace agreement that was signed in November of last year, which called for the withdrawal of foreign troops, did not specifically mention Eritrea, whose government views the TPLF as its archenemy.
Residents in Tigray who accuse the soldiers of murder, rape, and looting claim that Asmara was not a party to the agreement but that its troops are still present in some areas of that country.
Isaias responded when questioned about the ongoing presence of Eritrean forces in Tigray: “I have no intention of interfering in this matter despite the disinformation campaign going on trying to disrupt the peace process in Ethiopia and trying to create conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia.”
“Do not use Eritrea as an excuse for the issues in Ethiopia or the rest of the region. Try not to drag us into anything. It is a fantasy of those who wish to thwart the success of any peace process, “Added he.
