Ethiopian Foreign Ministry has announced over the weekend that Eritrean forces have started withdrawing from Ethiopia’s Tigray region in the north.

The US, Germany, France and other G7 countries called on Friday for a swift, unconditional and verifiable withdrawal of the Eritrean soldiers, followed by a political process that is acceptable to all Ethiopians. In a rejoinder issued late on Saturday through the Foreign Ministry, Ethiopia said that the G7 foreign ministers’ statement had not acknowledged key steps being taken to address the needs of the region.

Thousands of people died in the conflict, hundreds of thousands have been forced from their homes and there are shortages of food, water and medicine in the region. The government says most fighting has ceased but there are still isolated incidents of shooting.

Full access to the region has now been granted to humanitarian organizations, the Foreign Ministry said, adding that a joint investigation with external experts into alleged human rights violations will start soon.

Sisanda Mpiti.