Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Friday announced an interim government in the northern Tigray region.

The move follows an outbreak of fighting in recent weeks involving a rebel alliance and the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF).

"To attain the peace that has long eluded them, to secure their right to self-administration, ​and to finally enjoy the fruits of development — which have been out of reach for many years — the people of Tigray must break free from this cycle ⁠of conflict," ​Abiy said in a statement posted on X.

What the PM's office has said

Ahmed's office said on social media that "repeated efforts" to resolve the conflict in the region have ultimately failed.

The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) leadership "did not desire peace," it said, and instead initiated the latest "devastating war."

The prime minister's office said that in order to secure peace, an interim administration was being appointed in the region and would administer Tigray for the next 6 months.

Ahmed's office listed 10 primary tasks, among them, "free and fair elections" within a 6-month period.

Returning displaced communities, the restoring of government services and protection of basic infrastructure were also among the tasks listed.

What was the TPLF's reaction

The TPLF has not yet responded to the announcement. However, TPLF Vice President Amanuel Assefa told the AFP news agency that the region "cannot be ruled by puppets of the genocidal regime" in Addis Ababa.

Earlier, the TPLF denounced Tigrayans who collaborate with the federal government as "traitors" in a Facebook post. The statement said these individuals would face "accountability and public judgment."

Recent return to hostilities

In September, the TPLF and six other armed groups launched an offensive against Abiy's administration.

Federal forces have managed to push the rebel alliance back, resulting in the loss of strongholds, including the regional capital Mekelle.

Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of backing the TPLF, while Asmara denies the allegation and says Addis Ababa is using the conflict as a means of justifying military action with the aim of seizing control of the Red Sea Port of Assab.

More than 600,000 people were killed in a civil war from 2020 to 2022, and the region is still battling with large numbers of internally displaced people.

Edited by: Wesley Dockery

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