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Ethiopian troops detain BBC journalist in Mekelle
Girmay Gebru, the BBC’s Tigrinya correspondent based in Mekelle, was detained by Ethiopian troops this evening.
Girmay was at the Mekele teahouse when he was approached by four men in federal government uniforms. Four other men were also taken away.
According to eyewitnesses, they were all taken to the military camp in the city.
No one knows why five people, including Ghibelline, were arrested by Ethiopian soldiers. The BBC has learned that its journalists were arrested in Mekelle.
The Tigray region has been under military rule since November. Notably, in late November, federal forces, assisted by Eritrean forces in the north, captured Mekelle and then misleadingly announced that the conflict “against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front” (Tigray’s ruling party) had ended without causing any civilian casualties.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed himself declared victory by preventing the Eritrean military from playing a role in the conflict. More importantly, he said the conflict was over, even though it continued in many parts of Tigray.
Abiy Ahmed said the conflict stemmed from a November 3, 2020 attack by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front on a base of the Tigray Federal Forces.
International media reports say that, contrary to the prime minister’s claims, thousands of civilians have been killed and conflict continues to rage in many parts of the Tigray region. In addition, various news agencies have reported that many atrocities have occurred.
Many observers believe that Eritrean troops are still assisting federal forces. In fact, U.S. Secretary of State Blinken called for the withdrawal of Eritrean troops from Tigray as the “first step” to end the atrocities. He also said that the Amhara militia should withdraw from Tigray immediately.
The conflict has forced tens of thousands of Tigrayans to seek refuge across the border in Sudan. Many others have been forced to leave their towns and villages.
A few days ago, Prime Minister Abiy allowed Western journalists to visit Tigray to “witness” the “peaceful transition” taking place in Tigray. However, foreign journalists revealed atrocities committed by federal troops in the region.
Two local journalists who assisted AFP and the Financial Times with guidance and translation were arrested recently, while a BBC Tig reporter was arrested in front of witnesses.
Also, a few days ago, an Ethiopian journalist named Tamrat Yemane was arrested by security forces. Ethiopia is going downhill fast.
It is important to remember that an official from the Prime Minister’s own Prosperity Party warned against those who were “spreading false information to the international media”.
AFP and the Financial Times obtained permission from the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation to travel to Tigray for “personal inspection.”
“No one has told us about the charges against Fetsum Berhane. We demand his immediate release,” said AFP’s world affairs chief.
Financial Times officials also said they were taking the necessary steps to ensure the release of its translator.
Six months ago, the prime minister contradictorily declared a state of emergency in the Tigray region.
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