Ethiopian troops quit areas disputed by Eritrea --[Reported by Umva mag]

The Ethiopian National Defense Force has withdrawn from the disputed Zalambessa, a border area with Eritrea.

The withdrawal of the Ethiopian army was followed by the insertion of the Eritrean troops who continue to maintain a dominant presence in the area, residents in the area told APA on Friday.

Birhanu Berhe, the mayor of Zalambessa town, told local media that approximately 75 percent of Zalambessa was under the control of Eritrean forces, while the remaining 25 percent fell under the jurisdiction of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF).

Some residents also told APA that the Ethiopian troops have been withdrawing for two weeks now and when asked why they were withdrawing, they said ‘it is a government decision.”

The African Union (AU) observations team revealed that Eritrean forces continue to control different localities.

Zalambessa is a small area along the border between Eritrea and Ethiopia claimed by the two countries that clashed especially on this issue in a war between 1998 and 2000.

Eritrea believes that it belongs to its Debub Zone Debub zone while Ethiopia believes that it belongs to the Misraqawi zone of Ethiopia Tigray region.

Meanwhile, residents of Gulomakeda district in Zalambessa area in the Tigray region have reported an increase in abductions allegedly carried out by Eritrean forces.

The residents of Zalambessa, said they are living in fear and uncertainty amid reports of increasing kidnappings and deteriorating security, raising widespread concern among the local population.

MG/as/APA

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