It comes in the form of a new state of emergency that allows broad powers of arrest and enlistment for Ethiopians over the age of 18. The move contrasts with the government’s public statements that coverage of the conflict – which killed thousands and displaced more than 2 million – is “alarmist”.
Ethiopia’s Defense Force’s call for volunteers is aimed at military veterans under the age of 55, officers over the age of 60 and commanding officers under the age of 64, according to a statement on the army’s official Facebook “rebel advance”. stand against”. Page.
State media echoed the official military appeal on Friday, calling for former military members to return to duty in good physical and mental health to report locally, according to state-run Fana TV. The withdrawal of weapons is voluntary and involves a two-week registration period.
The military’s call comes after nine groups opposing the government – a broad coalition of armed groups and political actors representing various regional and ethnic interests – called on Friday to fight more “in response to the crises facing the country”. formed a new alliance. Against “Ethiopia’s genocidal regime”, according to a statement issued by the organisers.
The bloc, the United Front of Ethiopian Federalist and Confederalist Forces, said it no longer recognized Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government as legitimate and would seek to establish a transitional system while striving towards a democratic future.
The coalition includes fighters loyal to the former ruling party of Tigre, which once dominated the country, the Tigre People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) – better known as the Tigre Defense Forces (TDF) – battling Ethiopian forces. because Abi had ordered an offensive. Northern regions of the country last year.
On Friday, the government called the move a “publicity stunt” and said many of these have limited support on the ground in the country.
The TPLF has been advancing further south from the Tigre for months, and has formed an alliance with the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), a rebel group fighting for the rights of the people of Oromia, Ethiopia’s most populous region. Is.
Over the past week, rebels have claimed to have taken three cities outside the Tigre region, including Daisi and Kombolcha, two major cities on the road to the capital, raising concerns among Ethiopian leaders that the capital may fall.
As rebel fighters move toward Addis Ababa, government airstrikes intensify on Tigreyan cities, including the regional capital Mekele, with Abi pledging to bury his government’s enemies “with our blood”.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Abiy urged civilians to take up arms and fight Tigris forces. “Our people must march … with any weapons and resources they have to protect, expel and bury the terrorist TPLF.”
The inflammatory post was later removed by Facebook for inciting violence.
On Saturday, Abiy said in a tweet in a different tone: “A country with great potential and vast cultural, historical and national wealth, #Ethiopia will meet our current challenges. In unwavering unity we are on our path to greater heights.” Will remain so. #ResilientlyOnwards.”
OLA spokesman Oda Tarabi told CNN on Thursday that joint rebel fighters are still “weeks to months” away from capturing the capital.
Oda said the question of whether to enter the capital city is “purely based on what happens if it comes to negotiations”, Oda said, adding that the group wanted to avoid direct military conflict in the densely populated city. have hope.
The rebels have said they intend to overthrow Abiy’s government if a peace deal is not reached.
On Friday, Abiy’s government said they were engaging with the TDF and had captured a prominent commander.
Despite the state of emergency and voluntary call-ups, the government has maintained that daily life in the capital has not been affected.
Ethiopia’s Attorney General Gedeon Timothevos said in a videoconference with reporters on Friday that members of the anti-government coalition, including fighters loyal to the TPLF, “are deeply unpopular among the overwhelming majority of Ethiopians.” He said the state of emergency was declared “very carefully” based on intelligence that the TPLF might try to cause havoc in the capital or other cities.
Asked by CNN what conditions need to be met for the central government to engage in any talks with the TPLF, Timothyvos said: “At the very least, the TPLF should withdraw from the Amhara and Afar regions. where it is torturing innocent civilians.” Abiy’s spokeswoman, Billin Seyum, said that “the capital is proceeding with a sense of normalcy” and accused international media outlets of misrepresenting the situation.
As the conflict and its impact on civilians deepen, the United Nations, the United States, the European Union, Ethiopia’s southern neighbor Kenya, Canada and human rights groups have increased calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire.
The Ethiopian government announced a unilateral ceasefire in June, when Tigrayan forces recaptured the regional capital, Mekele. But the TPLF categorically denied a ceasefire, and fighting has spread beyond the borders of the Tigre to the neighboring Amhara and Afar regions.
UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet told CNN on Wednesday she was “very concerned” about the recent escalation of violence in the multi-ethnic federation, “causing a real civil war with a lot of bloodshed and a lot of pain and suffering.” could.” She said it also risks splitting Ethiopia as a state.
A joint investigation into the Tigre conflict by the United Nations Human Rights Office and the Ethiopian state-appointed Human Rights Commission released on Wednesday found all parties to the conflict committing potential war crimes.
Thousands have died in the 12 months of fighting, by many estimates, with reports of refugee camps being ransacked, looting, sexual violence, genocide and extrajudicial killings.
An earlier version of this story was incorrectly told when Abi sent his latest tweet. He posted it on Saturday.
CNN’s Eliza Mackintosh and Kara Fox contributed to this report.
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