23 October 2024
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia -The Interim Administration in Tigray has released 400 Eritrean soldiers captured during the recent conflict with the Ethiopian government, according to President Getachew Reda.
The announcement was made during a virtual meeting with Tigrean diaspora communities on Sunday.
Getachew emphasized that the release was “unwilling” and that the captives were intended to serve as evidence in future transitional justice proceedings.
However, pressure from the Ethiopian federal government ultimately led to their release.
The decision to release the Eritrean prisoners was made jointly by Getachew Reda, Tadesse Worede (former head of the Tigray Defense Force), and Debretsion Gebremichael.
Despite the release, the Interim Administration maintains that it has gathered substantial evidence to support allegations of genocide committed during the two-year conflict.
The TPLF has accused the Ethiopian Defense Force, Eritrean forces, and Amhara regional special forces of perpetrating these atrocities.
The war in northern Ethiopia is estimated to have claimed over a million lives, including civilian casualties. Both Eritrea and Ethiopia have yet to disclose the number of soldiers lost during the conflict.