Kombolcha massacre

The TPLF was the ruling party of Ethiopia that ruled the country for 27 years. Regime changes occurred in 2018 in which the TPLF lost control of federal positions while holding power in the Tigray Region. The power struggle between Abiy Ahmed’s regime and the TPLF led to the Tigray War that started after the Ethiopian military's Northern Command was attacked by TPLF in November 2020. As the war prolonged, the Tigrayan rebels retook most of Tigray and invaded the Amhara and the Afar regions in July 2021, reportedly massacring civilians and causing severe destructions. == Massacre ==

Kombolcha was captured by the Tigray Defense Forces (TDF) in late October 2021. The massacre of ethnic Amhara civilians occurred on 30 October 2021, following the infiltration of the attackers into the town. Residents reported chaotic nights and gunshots. The massacre of the 100 youths occurred after a year of continuous fighting in the Tigray War, and with the invasion of Tigray forces into the Amhara region. TDF combatants summarily executed the youths, and reportedly set the victims on fire at a compound of a Turkish-based company. == Looting and ransacking ==

Tigray forces reportedly looted and ransacked foreign aid essentials, and private and public properties, including the WFP food supplies for malnourished children in Kombolcha. WFP reported that it suspended distributing food aid after Tigray gunmen looted its warehouses, and stole large quantities of essential food supplies while holding aid staff at gunpoint. The government reported looting and damages to these manufacturing industries in Kombolcha and Dessie: 10 food processing, 11 leather and textile factories, 3 metal processing factories, 11 Agro-processing, and 10 chemical industries. TPLF also destroyed infrastructure and facilities such as schools and health stations. == IDP crisis ==

The humanitarian crisis remains dire for Amhara IDPs. AAA reported the dire situation of the IDPs sheltered in the surroundings of public schools. Civic groups expressed concern on the lack of support from government bodies— stated that the IDPs had not been given attention in both Dessie and Kombolcha. == Reactions ==

State of Emergency The November 2021 state of emergency was declared during the TPLF invasion of Kombolcha and after civilians massacre. Calls for evacuation The UN and some foreign diplomats urged citizens and families to leave Ethiopia with the state of emergency following occupation of Kombolcha and the killing of the 100 Amhara youths. • Government of Ethiopia: Senior Ethiopian officials described the calls for evacuation as disinformation and propaganda. Ethiopia accused the United States for spreading 'false information' about war. • Zambia: President Hakainde Hichilema ordered the diplomats and their families to evacuate, and repatriated 31 workers from the embassy in Addis Ababa • United States: Department of State and the U.S. embassy in Addis Ababa advised its citizens to leave the country "as soon as possible", and set-up a task force. • Canada: The Foreign Minister urged citizens to leave Ethiopia immediately, and communicated the security as "rapidly deteriorating". • United Kingdom: The Africa minister warned against travel to the whole country, and called for British nationals to leave "now while commercial flights are readily available". • France: The French embassy emailed its citizens and called for "All French nationals are formally urged to leave the country without delay". • Germany: Germany's foreign minister called for its nationals to depart on the "first available commercial flights". • UN: UN security asked the organization to "co-ordinate the evacuation and departure no later than 25 November 2021". == Retreat and withdrawal ==

Reports covered that Kombolcha was recaptured by the Ethiopian Federal army and the Amhara forces, and TPLF retreated out of the town— reversing TPLF's short-lived gains on the war front. TPLF denied defeat and carrying out the massacre. == See also ==