Eritrean chief dismisses as ‘fantasy’ alleged Tigray abuses

For the reason that begin of the two-year Tigray battle that killed an estimated half-million civilians and ended with a peace settlement in November, the presence of Eritrean forces allied with Ethiopian ones was a serious subject.

For months Ethiopia’s authorities denied that Eritrean forces have been even in Tigray. However human rights teams and United Nations consultants alleged they have been liable for many abuses towards ethnic Tigrayans, corresponding to gang rapes.

Eritrea will not be a celebration to the peace deal, and a few of its forces have remained inside Tigray, although the USA just lately stated they’ve withdrawn to the border space.

The Eritrean president, who hardly ever speaks to unbiased media, stated his nation has “no intention of interfering” within the peace course of in Ethiopia and has “no agenda” there.

“You discuss withdrawal, non-withdrawal, we are saying that is nonsense,” the 77-year-old chief stated. “Don’t provoke us” to trigger misunderstandings, he added: “Let’s assume that the peace course of in Ethiopia goes with out obstacles.”

Rising visibly irritated with questions, Isaias additionally accused these alleging human rights abuses of “fabricating lies and misinformation” with an intention of disrupting the peace course of. “You’re losing your time,” he stated.

“All people speaking about human rights, violations right here and there, rape, looting, this can be a fantasy,” the Eritrean chief stated.

Kenyan President William Ruto, for his half, asserted there was “big progress, super progress” in Ethiopia’s peace course of. Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta was a facilitator of the peace talks.

The battle erupted in Tigray a yr after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed obtained the Nobel Peace Prize for making peace with longtime rival Eritrea. The Ethiopian and Eritrean governments noticed the Tigray regional leaders, who had lengthy dominated Ethiopia’s authorities earlier than Abiy took workplace, as a standard menace.

The battle killed an estimated half-million civilians in Tigray alone, in keeping with researchers with Ghent College in Belgium. Eritrea’s chief on Thursday didn’t reply to questions concerning the variety of Eritreans killed.

Whereas the Kenyan and Eritrean leaders’ assertion spoke of Eritrea contemplating a return to the Horn of Africa regional physique the Intergovernmental Authority on Improvement as a member, Eritrea’s chief in his remarks stated, “I readily say there is no such thing as a query about that,” to applause.

Eritrea and Kenya are also abolishing visa necessities for one another’s residents efficient instantly, and Kenya will open a diplomatic mission in Eritrea’s capital.

Kenya’s president stated he’s wanting ahead to working with Eritrea’s authorities on points associated to Ethiopia and different regional neighbors Sudan and South Sudan.