Ethiopian premier dismisses civil war fears

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

Ethiopia's prime minister took to Twitter on Monday, criticizing widespread description of law enforcement measures in Tigray and other places as precursors of civil war.

Over the past days, some international media outlets and organizations have expressed concern that Ethiopia could slide into civil war after premier Abiy Ahmed's administration launched large scale law enforcement measures against the Tigray People's Liberation Movement (TPLF) in the northern city of Mekele.

At the beginning of last week, the leaders of the TPLF orchestrated an attack on Ethiopian Defense Force's Northern Command stationed in Mekele, triggering a military counteroffensive by the federal government.

"#Ethiopia is grateful for friends expressing their concern. Our rule of law operation is aimed at guaranteeing peace and stability once and for all by bringing perpetrators of instability to justice," Abiy tweeted.

He said: "Concerns that Ethiopia will descend into chaos are unfounded & a result of not understanding our context deeply. Our rule of law enforcement operation, as a sovereign state with the capacity to manage its own internal affairs, will wrap up soon by ending the prevailing impunity."

On Sunday, he announced major cabinet reshuffles, appointing Demeke Mekonnen as Foreign Minister and replacing Gedu Andargachew, who was moved to another senior post as national security adviser to the prime minister.

Army and security chiefs were also dismissed and replaced, along with the country's spy chief and federal police commissioner.