Tigray begins handing over heavy weapons

WORLD, Jan. 11 (YPA) – Tigray regional forces begun handing in their heavy weapons, a key part of an agreement signed more than two months ago to end a deadly conflict in northern Ethiopia, a spokesman for the rebel authorities said.

According to AFP, Getachew Reda, the rebel spokesman,  said that “the Tigray region handed over its heavy weapons as part of its commitment to implement the Pretoria Agreement” signed on November 2 between the federal government and the rebels.

“We hope and expect this will go a long way in expediting the full implementation of the agreement. We hope and expect!”

The agreement provides for the disarmament of rebel forces, the re-establishment of federal authority in Tigray and the reopening of access and communications to the region, which has been cut off from the world since mid-2021.

The fighting began in November 2020, when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent the army to arrest Tigrayan leaders who had been challenging his authority for months and whom he accused of attacking federal military bases.

E.M