Mekelle: 2 February 2024 (Tigray Herald)
UK State Minister Reaffirms Demand for Eritrean Forces Withdrawal from Tigray
UK’s State Minister for Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, Andrew Mitchell, echoes a resolute call for the withdrawal of Eritrean forces from Tigray.
Mitchell, accompanied by UK Ambassador Darren Welch, engages in discussions on the Pretoria peace agreement’s implementation with Tigray IRA President Getachew Reda in Mekelle.
President Getachew describes the talks as fruitful, addressing crucial issues such as humanitarian aid.
“I welcomed and had discussions with UK Africa Minister @AndrewmitchMP & @DarrenWelchFCDO in #Mekelle today. We covered a number of topics including need for humanitarian aid, return of IDPs, obstacles to the full implementation of the CoHA and other issues of regional importance.” President Getachew wrote on X this evening.
The delegation from the government of UK visited Ayder Hospital where the State Minister Andrew Mitchell reminded the need for swift international intervention before the situation in Tigray escalates out of control.
State Minister Andrew Mitchell also travelled to Agula, a small town 37 kilometers Northeastern the capital, to visit IDPs facing lack of food and pledged the swift respond from the UK government.
It’s to be recalled, in August 2023, UK Ambassador to Ethiopia Darren Welch had called on the withdrawal of Eritrean forces from “northern Ethiopia” for the peace agreement to be implemented completely.
15 months to the Pretoria agreement that stipulates their withdrawal, some areas in Western, Northwestern, central and Eastern Tigray remains under the control of Eritrean forces.
