NEWS REPORT
14 government troops join Afar rebels during fight
By Ethiomedia Staff Writer
Nov 30, 2003
MAICHEW (Nov 30) - Fourteen Ethiopian government soldiers joined Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front (ARDUF) on November 15th when the troops were sent by the Government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi on a combat operation against the Afar rebels, military sources informed Ethiomedia on Saturday.
By Ethiomedia Staff Writer
Nov 30, 2003
MAICHEW (Nov 30) - Fourteen Ethiopian government soldiers joined Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front (ARDUF) on November 15th when the troops were sent by the Government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi on a combat operation against the Afar rebels, military sources informed Ethiomedia on Saturday.
On November 19 ARDUF informed Ethiomedia that it had won a battle over government troops. ARDUF said its rebels had repulsed the offensive and forced the army to flee to Maichew, the biggest town in southern Tigrai region and 70 km of west of Afhara, site of the battle in Afar region which skirts the Red Sea.
The military sources confirmed the authenticity of the battle and said the government troops retreated to Maichew on what they called the "army's conviction not to engage an Ethiopian group that fights for Ethiopian interests."
"ARDUF may have mistaken the 14 government troops for prisoners of war (PoWs) but must have found out later that the soldiers were joining the Afar struggle based on a genuine Ethiopian cause. The Ethiopian army has the might to crush any enemy and the encounter with the Afars should not be mistaken for defeat or any of that kind. It was a political move made by some of the soldiers who saw no meaning in war against an Ethiopian group which is fighting to restore what the country lost some time in the past due to political machinations by the ruling regime in Addis," the source said.
"For us, it would have been easier to retreat to Woldia or Dessie, cities closer to the battle site in Afar region. We pulled our forces back to Maichew, where we are ready to crush any force the Meles regime may send to take punitive measures against us," the source added.
Commander of the army unit which retreated to Maichew was detained but released immediately for fear of repercussions among a resenting army.
This is the first time the military has confirmed a growing understanding among government troops that the Afar rebels were no enemy to Ethiopia.
ARDUF has never recognized Eritrea as an independent nation. The front recently passed a stern warning to anyone involved in border demarcation. Though ARDUF's goal has been to fight against the Asmara regime, the rebel group has lived drawing much fire and fury from Meles Zenawi than Isaias Afewerki of Eritrea.
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