The spokesman of the rebel Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), Getachew Reda, has stated that in spite of the coordinated withdrawal of Eritrean forces from Tigray Region, there are “small units” within the region.
Reda made the assertion at a news briefing with local media after the first meeting between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and TPLF officials.
“Although there were occasions when they [Eritrean troops] withdrew in an organised manner, there are instances of in and out of small units, and this should be addressed fully,” said Reda.
He further stated that they decided during last week’s meeting with the prime minister that federal forces should be deployed in areas bordering Eritrea “to ensure security as part of the Pretoria [peace] agreement”.
The AU brokered a deal between the TPLF and the Ethiopian government in November 2022 to halt fighting and restore peace and basic services to Tigray region.