Tigray, other 8 allied forces say they're weeks to months" away from entering Addis Ababa

CAIRO – 5 November 2021: The newly announced alliance against Ethiopia's government said, Friday that they're "weeks to months" away from entering Addis Ababa, according to CNN.

The allied forces claimed that they are now in control of a town about 160 kilometers (99 miles) from the capital city.

Spokesperson of the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) Odaa Tarbii Told CNN that this timeline is an estimate based on the current speed of the push south.

The alliance which was announced earlier Friday in formed of nearly nine rebel forces including the Tigray forces. This alliance seeks a political transition after a year of the disturbing war that raised a lot of concern over the political and humanitarian situation in the country.

The OLA, and other allied groups said that moving on Addis Ababa is not their main objective. Instead, it is calling for Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to be removed, and to announce a transitional conference until holding truly democratic election, according to Tarbii statements.

From his part, Abiy Ahmed has been calling on civilians to confront these groups and get weapons to stop them; accordingly, both of Facebook and twitter have deleted the Ethiopian Prime Minster tweets and posts for being ‘hate, violent speech’ and ‘incites for violence’

Earlier Friday, the Ethiopian Armed forces also called on all physically fit ex-soldiers to register in the army and participate in military operations against the newly-formed alliance.

In a fast-developing situation, The US Embassy in Addis Ababa called on American citizens to not travel to Ethiopia and consider departing now over insecurity due to the ongoing armed conflict.

“Do not travel to Ethiopia due to armed conflict, civil unrest, communications disruptions, crime, and the potential for terrorism and kidnapping in border areas,” the Embassy said, Friday.

 Also, the United Nation Security Council expressed its deep concern, Friday, over the expansion of military clashes in Ethiopia.

In a draft statement, the security council called on all parties to refrain from ‘hate speech and incitement to violence’

It also expressed concern over the impact of the conflict on the humanitarian situation and stability in Ethiopia

Ethiopian authorities have recently declared a state of emergency nationwide, calling for people to take up arms to defend the Ethiopian capital.

As per the Tigray conflict, hundreds of thousands have been displaced and the region was brought to the brink of famine.