Timeline of the Tigray war (January–June 2021)
ENDF Brigadier General Tesfaye Ayalew said that TPLF were found hiding in caves and churches and many members of the militia and Tigray Special Forces have surrendered.
Eritrean soldiers were hindered from exiting Tigray with looted goods because of clashes between ENDF and TDF along the major roads into Eritrea.
It reported that civilians in Humera, Shire, Aksum, Adwa, Adigrat, Wukro, Mekelle, Hewane, Workamba, Abi Adi, and Hagerselam had been hit with heavy artillery fire.
A 4-minute video of the victims, apparently made by a member of the perpetrators' group, and described as "too graphic to publish", shows around 40 bodies in civilian clothes.
This assessment is later rejected by the EEPA which in a later situation report on 9 January claims that according to its sources things in Alamata, Mehoni and Mekelle are not going back to normal.
Only two days after the slaughter were gravediggers allowed to set about their grim task; one of them buried 26 corpses in the graveyard of the Abune Aregawi Church, survivors said.
ENDF Deployment Department Head, Brigadier General Tesfaye Ayalew told Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) that Sebhat Nega was captured hiding in a ravine extremely difficult to reach.
The Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) killed twelve religious people in the church of Adi'Zeban Karagiorgis in Ari Giyergis (Southern Tigray) on 9 January 2021.
[22] An EEPA situation report claimed that the ENDF built a fence near the Sudanese border to stop refugees from exiting to Sudan.
"[19] Bloomberg reported satellite images showing the destruction of UN facilities, a health-care unit, a high school, and houses in Shimelba and Hitsats camps.
[23] Ethiopia's military said on 10 January that it had killed 15 members of the Tigray region's former ruling party and captured eight others, according to state-run TV.
[citation needed] There was fighting in Debano (north of Werkamba) between ENDF and TDF; the people fled to the mountains near Weri’i River, away from the road.
[35] Tigray TV journalist Dawit Kebede Araya and businessman Bereket Berhe were shot dead at around 20:10 EAT near the Adi Haus area in Mekelle, with relatives blaming security forces for their deaths.
[39] Mulugeta Gebrehiwot, former EPRDF member and founder of the Institute for Peace and Security Studies, telephoned Horn of Africa researcher Alex de Waal, and described the war as "genocide by decree".
He stated that United Arab Emirates drones had played the main role in disarming TPLF forces about a month after the war started.
[39] Debretsion Gebremichael, the deposed elected leader of Tigray Region, made a speech[40] in which he called on Tigrayans to oppose the ENDF and EDF.
The religious leaders met with Mulu Nega, head of the Transitional Government of Tigray, called for peace and increased humanitarian efforts and expressed their willingness to strengthen the morale of Tigrayans.
[47] Residents speculated that the unannounced change in dates was intended to avoid street protests, and perceived the visit as a public relations exercise.
Protests against the visit took place and included street blockades, burning tyres and boycotting the public meeting with the religious leaders.
[51] UNOCHA stated on 12 February that a total of 53 international staff of United Nations agencies and NGOs had received approval to enter Tigray Region.
[60] DX Open Network, a research organization based in the UK, reported having analysed before and after satellite imagery of the town of Gijet.
[63] Fitsum Berhane, translator for The Financial Times (FT), was arrested at his home in Mekelle for a reason unknown to FT.[64] 26 civilians were reportedly killed by Ethiopian security forces in Benishangul Gumuz district.
[citation needed] The TDF claimed it had killed 100+ ENDF and EDF soldiers after they repelled an offensive in Keyih Gobo, Samre district in Southeastern Tigray.
[14][83] The Eritrean Defence Forces (EDF) killed around 140 civilians in May Atsmi, Tisha and Haddush Addi, three municipalities south of Wukro Maray (Central Tigray) on 1 April 2021.
Lowcock stated that the EDF soldiers had begun to camouflage their identities by putting on Ethiopian military uniforms and continuing to carry out "atrocities".
[94] Eritrea for the first time has publicly admitted its participation in Ethiopia's Tigray conflict, as it confirmed to the UN Security Council that it has approved to commence exiting its troops from the region.
[101] A battle report describes light TDF units capturing weapons and medicines from the Amhara Special forces, while destroying their heavy equipment.
[104] Gedion Timothewos, Ethiopia's attorney general has cautioned foreign countries from working with the two groups, and also maintained that the new move would not affect ordinary civilians.
[115] According to the UN's top emergency relief coordinator Mark Lowcock if aid is not increased in the next two months, there would be a dangerous risk of food shortage.
[116] The UK urged for a declaration of ceasefire by all conflict parties in Tigray, in order to facilitate humanitarian access and avoid famine in the region.
