The Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, has ordered the federal army to launch the "final offensive" against the separatist forces of the autonomous region of Tigray, where an armed conflict has been going on for weeks.
"The army - declared the premier, Nobel Peace Prize 2019 - has received the order to launch the final phase" on the capital Mekele (Macallè) of the offensive launched on November 4 against the Tigrinya rebel armed forces headed by the Front of liberation of the people of Tigrè (Tpfl).
"Everything will be done - Abiy assures on his Facebook profile - to protect civilians" and "so that the city of Mekele does not suffer serious damage".