(Reuters)
Fighting between forces from Ethiopia’s rebellious northern region of Tigray and central government forces has erupted around the town of Kobo, residents and the spokesman for the Tigrayan forces said on Wednesday, ending a months-long ceasefire.
“I am hearing sound of heavy weapons starting from this morning,” said a farmer in the Kobo area who did not wish to be named. “Last week, I saw Amhara special forces and Fano (volunteer militia) heading to the front by bus.”
A second resident said he also heard heavy weapons and confirmed that in the past two days there been major movement of Fano militia and special forces from the neighbouring Amhara region to the area.
Ethiopian government spokesman Legesse Tulu, military spokesman Colonel Getnet Adane and the prime minister’s spokeswoman Billene Seyoum did not respond to requests for comment.
Tigrai Television, a media outlet controlled by the Tigray state, reported on Wednesday “the Ethiopian forces along with Amhara special forces and Amhara militias started a large-scale attack around 5:00 a.m.”
The fighting marks the end of a ceasefire observed since March and is comes as a major blow to attempts to start peace talks between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, the party that controls Tigray.
The fighting has displaced millions of people, pushed parts of Tigray into famine and killed thousands of civilians.
The government said earlier this month it wanted talks “with no preconditions”, while Tigray’s government has called for the restoration of services to civilians first.
Tigray has been without banking and telephone services since the military pulled out at the end of June. Imports of fuel are restricted, limiting the distribution of aid.
