Amhara militia men, that combat alongside federal and regional forces against northern region of Tigray, receive training in the outskirts of the village of Addis Zemen, north of Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, on Nov 10, 2020. (EDUARDO SOTERAS / AFP)

ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopia’s military has defeated local forces in the west of Tigray state, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on Thursday, accusing his foes of atrocities during a week of fighting that threatens to destabilize the Horn of Africa.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed accuses the TPLF of starting the conflict by attacking a federal military base and defying his authority, while the Tigrayans say his two-year rule has persecuted them

“The western region of Tigray has been liberated,” tweeted Abiy, 44, who comes from the largest ethnic group the Oromo and once fought with the Tigrayans against neighboring Eritrea.

“In those liberated areas, the army is now providing humanitarian assistance and services. It is also feeding the people,” he added.

There was no immediate response from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which rules the mountainous northern state of more than 5 million people.

Humanitarian emergency looms

More than 10,000 Ethiopian refugees have crossed into Sudan since fighting started and aid agencies say the situation in Tigray appears to be becoming dire. Even before the conflict, 600,000 people there were reliant on food aid.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said aid agencies were unable to restock food, health and other emergency supplies in Tigray due to lack of access.

“Shortages of basic commodities are reportedly appearing, impacting the most vulnerable first and the most,” it said.

The United Nations’ refugee agency’s representative in Ethiopia, Ann Encontre, told Reuters negotiations were underway with both sides for humanitarian corridors to be opened.

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Abiy has so far resisted calls by the United Nations, the African Union and others for a ceasefire and talks.

His army chief of staff Birhanu Jula was quoted by state-affiliated Fana broadcaster as saying that the federal troops’ Northern Command had resisted a five-day siege and was now recapturing many places including Dansha, Humera airport and Baeker.

“I would like to thank these members of the army for being a model of our heroic defense force and their persistent battle though deprived of food and water for four or five days,” he said.

Ethiopia’s parliament stripped 39 members, including the Tigray regional president Debretsion Gebremichael, of immunity from prosecution, the state news agency reported.

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The government’s newly-formed State of Emergency task force for Tigray said about 150 “criminal” operatives for the TPLF had been arrested in the capital Addis Ababa and elsewhere on suspicion of planning “terror attacks”.

Amhara regional state, which neighbors Tigray and has been backing Abiy, called off planned demonstrations against the Tigrayan ruling party. “The protest is not timely due to current security concerns,” said the state’s communication office.

Sidama region was, however, going ahead with an anti-TPLF protest, Fana TV said.

READ MORE: Ethiopia sends army into Tigray region, heavy fighting reported