The Tigrayans, who have been in conflict with the government for the past year, have teamed up with another rebel group as they move towards the capital, Addis Ababa. According to foreign officials observing the conflict, there are indications that several units of the Ethiopian army have either collapsed or retreated. The declaration of a state of emergency reflects the rapidly changing situation in a spreading war that poses a threat to Ethiopia, the second most populous country in Africa. This development also represents a setback for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate whose global standing has been damaged by a war that has resulted in reports of human rights abuses, massacres, and famine. A year ago, on November 4, Abiy initiated a military operation in the Tigray region in an attempt to defeat the Tigray People's Liberation Front, his most challenging political opponent. However, despite initially pledging a quick and peaceful military operation, Abiy found himself embroiled in a complex and bloody conflict. The Ethiopian military faced a significant setback in June as they were defeated and forced to retreat from Tigray, with many soldiers being captured. Currently, the fighting is escalating towards Abiy, with Tigrayan rebels seizing control of Dessie and Kombolcha, located just 160 miles northeast of the capital. According to a United Nations official, Tigrayan forces were observed advancing further south from Kombolcha on Tuesday. During the state of emergency, Abiy has extensive authority to apprehend and incarcerate dissenters, enforce curfews, and limit the freedom of the press. Justice Minister Gedion Timothewos stated at a press briefing that any citizen over 18 may be summoned to participate in the conflict. He also mentioned that individuals in possession of weapons will be required to surrender them to the government. The government announced that the state of emergency will be in effect for six months. Prior to this announcement, the city administration in Addis Ababa had urged residents to utilize their weapons to protect their communities. The statement mentioned that house-to-house searches were being carried out to look for Tigrayan sympathizers. These announcements contributed to a growing feeling of unease in the city, where tensions had been escalating due to reports of Tigrayan military progress. A taxi driver named Dereje, who was hesitant to share his full name in the city's tense atmosphere, expressed his determination to join the fight. He stated that he would not stay at home and face the enemy, but would instead fight for his children and country. However, a teacher who chose not to disclose his identity mentioned that he had lost trust in the Ethiopian government. "They deceived us by claiming that the TPLF had been defeated," he said, referring to the Tigray People's Liberation Front. "I am extremely concerned about what will happen. I hope God helps us." President Joe Biden, who has threatened to impose sanctions on Ethiopia if it does not move towards peace talks, announced on Tuesday that he would revoke Ethiopia's trade privileges, including duty-free access to the United States, due to "serious violations of internationally recognized human rights." In a separate briefing, Jeffrey Feltman, the Biden administration's envoy to the Horn of Africa, warned that the escalating conflict could have "devastating consequences" for Ethiopia's unity and its relationship with the United States. After the regional capital fell to the Tigray Defence Forces on June 25, 2021, defeated Ethiopian soldiers were paraded through Mekelle. Billene Seyoum, a spokesperson for Abiy, did not respond to a request for comment." Ethiopian soldiers who were defeated are being paraded through Mekelle after the Tigray Defence Forces took over the regional capital on June 25, 2021. The decision to revoke trade privileges by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration is expected to have a negative impact on the country’s economy, particularly on women and children. Ethiopia has expressed its commitment to holding accountable those responsible for serious human rights abuses. The escalating situation in Ethiopia has raised concerns in the region, with fears that the conflict could spill over into neighboring countries like Kenya or result in a influx of refugees. Prime Minister Abiy, who was once highly regarded in the West after winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019, has faced mounting criticism over the past year as the war in Tigray escalated and former allies have turned against him. Criticism has focused on Ethiopia's severe blockade of Tigray, which has led to a shortage of food and medicine in a region where millions are in urgent need of assistance and hundreds of thousands are facing famine-like conditions, according to the United Nations. After the United States threatened sanctions against Abiy's government in September, he accused the West of displaying neocolonial bias and expelled seven senior UN officials, including a humanitarian aid coordinator in Tigray. Last month, the Ethiopian military launched an offensive against Tigrayan forces that extended to include airstrikes on the region's besieged capital, Mekelle. Recently, Abiy has attributed his losses to unidentified foreigners who he claims are fighting alongside the Tigrayans. He stated, "Black and white nationals of non-Ethiopian descent have been involved in the war." In Addis Ababa, security forces have initiated a new crackdown on ethnic Tigrayans, raising concerns of ethnically motivated reprisals in the capital as the rebels approach. International efforts to bring the opposing sides to the negotiating table have been ineffective. Despite mounting evidence that his army is struggling, Abiy has continued with military operations. The Tigrayans claim they are fighting to break a siege that is harming their region and causing starvation. Gen Tsadkan Gebretensae, the rebels' top strategist, criticized Western pressure on Abiy as insufficient. Human rights groups have accused Tigrayan fighters of abuses, including killing Eritrean refugees, although not to the same extent as Ethiopian troops. The Ethiopian government has accused Tigrayan fighters of killing residents in Kombolcha recently, but without providing any evidence. Since July, the Tigrayan fighters have been advancing south into the Amhara region in a prolonged battle that has largely gone unseen due to internet blackouts and reporting restrictions. A significant development occurred over the weekend with the capture of Dessie and Kombolcha, key towns along a crucial highway in the conflict that could shape the future of Ethiopia. In their push south, the Tigrayans have joined forces with the Oromo Liberation Army, a smaller rebel group advocating for the rights of the Oromo, Ethiopia's largest ethnic group. After years of fighting in rural areas, the OLA seems to be making inroads into urban centers in Ethiopia. Odaa Tarbii, a spokesperson for the OLA, announced on Tuesday that they had taken control of a town located 120 miles to the north of Addis Ababa. They anticipated moving south in coordination with the Tigrayans within the next two to three days. Throughout much of the conflict, Abiy received strong support from Eritrea, whose forces were involved in the early stages of the war in late 2020 and were accused of committing serious atrocities against civilians. However, in recent weeks, Eritrean forces have been noticeably absent from the ongoing fighting for reasons that remain unclear, according to Tigrayan and Western officials. Getachew Reda, a spokesperson for the Tigray People's Liberation Front, stated that the Ethiopian military was disintegrating as it retreated south, leaving behind armed ethnic militias. He claimed that the military's command and control structure had collapsed, a view that was supported by two Western officials who requested anonymity due to diplomatic concerns. If the Tigrayans persist in advancing southward, officials stated that Abiy will probably experience significant pressure from within his own political circle, as well as on the battlefield. © 2021 The New York Times Company.