Tigray leader vows group 'will not disarm'

As it gets ready for peace talks with the federal government, the rebel Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) of Ethiopia has said that it will not negotiate the disarmament of the "Tigray army."

Debretsion Gebremichael reportedly made the remarks to the local media during a briefing, according to Tigray TV, which is run by the TPLF.

Because the [Ethiopian] constitution forbids regional states from having an army, we should disarm. Nothing like that exists, he declared.

Mr. Debretsion asserted that "Western Tigray" should be returned to Tigray because it is a part of the region and is protected by the same constitution.

Western Tigray is a part of Tigray, per the constitution. So they [Ethiopian government] should hand it over to Tigray. This benefits the people of Tigray if at all they hand it over," he said.

The two sides are preparing to hold peace talks to end the civil war that has killed thousands of people and displaced millions since November 2020.