Ethiopian rebels launched major offensive in Northern Ethiopia

Arbegnoch-Ginbot 7 rebels coalition have been fighting TPLF forces in Tigray on three different fronts for the last three days. The rebels claim major victories thus far. Photo: Ginbot 7 rebel fighters


Ethiopian rebels launched major offensive in Northern Ethiopia

By Borkena

Arbegnoch-Ginbot 7, Ethiopian rebels coalition that is operating in Northern Ethiopia, launched major offensive on government positions in Tigray regions, reported ESAT in a breaking news coverage.

ESAT cited spokesperson and political affairs head of Arbegnoch -Ginbot 7, Zemene Kassie, as a source.

According to the report, Kafta Mesil, Urjamo and Maisegel areas of Tigray region came under what looks like a conventional military attack from the rebels on Thursday July 2, 2015. On the side of government,24 division of the army, federal special forces and special armed forces engaged the rebels in an effort to repulse the attack. And the fighting lasted for four hours and the rebels claim major military victory.

Over fifty government forces are reportedly dead and at least sixty are wounded. Number of deaths and wounded could be higher than reported according to ESAT. However, the extent of causality on the side of rebel forces is not disclosed.

Based on ESAT report, it seems the case that the fighting is going on in a different battle front in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.

So far there is neither confirmation nor denial of the report on the part of the government of Ethiopia.

Recently, government passed legislation along gun registry and gun ownership. According to some sources, the new regulation imposed restriction on gun owners not to sell registered guns or not to pass it to a different person in the form of a gift of inheritance.

Observers claim that the political environment in Ethiopia is tense due to government crackdown.

After widespread crackdown on free press and legally registered opposition parties, government declared a hundred percent election win in the Ethiopian general election which was held on May 24, 2015.

Experiences of major Opposition parties in Ethiopia seem to suggest that peaceful political activism reached to the point of impossibility due to widespread repressive measures from government – a situation that is potentially giving rebels solid ground to win new recruits.

Yet, government is only deepening the level of attack against opposition figures and opposition politicians operating peacefully in Ethiopia.

Two weeks ago, Samuel Awoke, a lawyer by profession and Semayawi party candidate was stabbed to death in Debremarkos in North Western Ethiopia.

Related Reading: Pictures of Arbegnoch – Ginbot7 Fighters in Eritrea

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