ADDIS ABABA, Nov 8 (NNN-ENA) – Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, stressed that, “criminal elements cannot escape rule of law,” amid ongoing military operations in the country’s northernmost region.
Abiy Ahmed ordered military operations against the rebel Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), in the northern state of Tigray, in response to an attack on a government army base earlier in the day.
“Criminal elements cannot escape the rule of law under the guise of seeking reconciliation and a call for dialogue,” the Ethiopian Prime Minister said, in a Twitter post yesterday.
Ahmed, who is also commander-in-chief of the Ethiopian armed forces, stressed that, “our operation aims to end the impunity that prevailed for far too long, and hold accountable individuals and groups under the laws of the land.”
Noting that Ethiopia’s quest to have a successful transition towards constitutional democracy requires adherence to rule of law, Ahmed also stressed that, his administration will continue to take necessary law enforcement measures, to safeguard and advance the nascent process of democratisation from “rogue political actors.”
On Friday, Ahmed had also confirmed, airstrikes were carried out in the country’s Tigray regional state.
Ahmed said, the airstrikes are intended at military targets of the “dangerous clique” and not the civilians. He also alerted civilians to reduce mass gatherings in order not to cause collateral damages.
In recent weeks, there have been rising tensions between Ahmed’s Prosperity Party and the TPLF, with each side accusing the other of trying to destabilise the country.– NNN-ENA
