Heavy shelling was reported in capital of Ethiopia’s Tigray as government forces begun an offensive to capture the regional capital, Makelle.
The leader of rebellious forces, Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in Tigray region Debretsion Gebremichael confirmed on Saturday that the city was under “heavy bombardment”.
Some sources are saying that the explosions can be heard in the north of the city.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Thursday announced the “final phase” of the offensive in Tigray. The announcement came after government’s ultimatum to the TPLF to surrender expired on Wednesday.
Abiy announced military operations in Tigray on November 4 after months of friction between his government and the TPLF. His government and the one in Tigray led by the TPLF consider each other illegitimate.
Aid groups fear extensive civilian casualties in Makelle, a city of 500,000 people.
Ethiopian authorities however said the government forces would not “bombard” civilian areas, adding “the safety of Ethiopians in Makelle and Tigray region continues as priority for the federal government.”
“I invite everyone to pray for #Ethiopia where armed clashes have intensified and are causing a serious humanitarian situation. I appeal to the parties in conflict so that the violence might ceases, life may be safeguarded and the populations can regain peace” Pope Francis tweeted on Saturday after news of the attack came out.
Claims by all sides in the three-week-old conflict between government and TPLF forces have been impossible to verify because phone and internet connections to the region are down and access to the area is tightly controlled.
Abiy, the winner of last year’s Nobel Peace Prize, accused Tigrayan leaders of starting the war by attacking federal troops at a base in Tigray. The TPLF says the attack was a pre-emptive strike.
Abiy, told the African Union’s peace envoys a day later his government will protect civilians in Tigray and is willing to talk to representatives “operating legally” in the region.
A statement issued by the prime minister’s office after their meeting, however, made no mention of talks with the TPLF to end the fighting.
The statement issued after Abiy met the African Union envoys – former Presidents Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia, Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique and Kgalema Motlanthe of South Africa – added the government was committed to the “protection and security of civilians”.
The statement thanked the envoys for imparting their “wisdom, insights, and readiness to support in any way they are needed” and did not mention any plans for further discussions with them.
The envoys had been sent to Addis Ababa to help mediate in the conflict, something Abiy had already made clear he did not want as he rejected any foreign “interference”.
There was no immediate confirmation of how many rockets were fired, where they landed, and any casualties or damage caused.
The United Nations estimates 1.1 million Ethiopians will need aid as a result of the conflict, which has sent shockwaves through the Horn of Africa and threatens to involve neighboring countries.
More than 43,000 refugees have fled to Sudan, with the UN estimating that number to be 200,000 in six months.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had stressed the need to ensure the protection of civilians, human rights and aid access.