The AU appointed observer team is expected to arrive in Mekele to monitor the situation in Tigray. The team comprises of nine generals from South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria. An expert whose speciality is not confirmed yet will lead the team.
The arrival of the team was delayed due to technical issues including the presence of Eritrean and Amhara regional forces.
Though most of the Eritrean force have withdrawn from the a few cities, contingents are left behind in locations not far from the cities from which it withdrew.
Our sources said that the Eritrean government has security concerns that it wants addressed before a complete withdrawal. However, both the Eritrean and Ethiopian governments have not explained the issues of withdrawal.
Eritrea is talking to the AU mediators through Kenya whose ex-president Kenyatta is one of the main mediators.
Last week, Osman Saleh, Eritrea’s foreign minister delivered a message to president William Ruto explaining Eritreans concerns. In his last visit to Kenya, Yemen Gebreab, the advisor of the Eritrean president didn’t accompany Osman Saleh who rarely travels alone.
On December 9, the Kenyan president visited Asmara and met Isaias Afwerki who took him in a walk in in a city street where crowds cheered Isaias Afwerki. Eritrean media announced the launch of a flight between Nairobi and Asmara. According to the reporter, Eritrean travelers to Nairobi will be exempted form visa requirements.
However, the Eritrean government didn’t mention the issue of withdrawing its forces from Tigray though that, according to our source, “the main reason for president Ruto’s visit to Asmara was to deliver the AU demand that Eritrea withdraws its forces from Tigray.”
Observers expect the AU monitoring team will provide accurate information and “put an end to the inflated claims and counter claims, feeding the popular prejudice and agitating for more violence.” The team. Is also expected to verify the magnitude and veracity of the allegations that has widened the gap, particularly between the peoples affected by the war.
Meanwhile, Eritreans hospitals are overwhelmed by wounded soldiers and visitors most of whom searching for missing relatives. The Eritrean government doesn’t disclose the names of soldiers killed in action or whereabouts of wounded. It’s upon the relatives to roam around hospitals in different cities. Our source said, only those who are healthy and can afford the travel expenses embark on the search for missing soldiers while others wat for information from individuals discharged from. the hospitals.”
Last week, a colleague of their killed son informed the parents their child fell in battle around Adwa in August.
through one of his colleagues.
The source added, “In the absence of official announcements, the relentless propaganda onslaught by supporters of the parties in the conflict is adding to the anxiety of the parents.”
In a statement a few weeks ago, Field Marshal Berhanu Jula briefly mentioned the number of the war casualties in which he estimated the number of Eritreans killed in action at around thirty thousand, however, in no time the Ethiopian media doubled the number to sixty thousand.
Related link
https://awate.com/african-generals-appointed-pows-not-mentioned/