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. Foreign officials observing the conflict have noted that several Ethiopian army units have either collapsed or retreated. The declaration of a state of emergency reflects the rapidly changing situation in a growing war that is threatening to divide Ethiopia, the second-most populous country in Africa. This development is another setback for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate whose reputation has been tarnished by a war that has resulted in reports of human rights abuses, massacres, and famine. A year ago, Abiy initiated a military operation in the northern Tigray region in an attempt to defeat the regional ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front, his main political adversary. However, despite initially vowing a quick and peaceful operation, Abiy found himself embroiled in a complex military situation. The Ethiopian army faced a significant setback in June, leading to their retreat from Tigray and the capture of thousands of soldiers. Currently, the conflict is approaching Abiy, with recent reports showing Tigrayan rebels advancing towards towns like Dessie and Kombolcha, located just 160 miles northeast of the capital. According to a United Nations official, Tigrayan forces were observed moving south from Kombolcha on Tuesday. During the state of emergency, Abiy has extensive authority to apprehend and imprison dissenters, enforce curfews, and control the media. Justice Minister Gedion Timothewos stated at a press conference that any citizen over 18 may be summoned to join the fight. He also mentioned that individuals in possession of weapons must surrender them to the government. The state of emergency is expected to be in effect for six months, as announced by the government. Prior to this, the city administration in Addis Ababa had urged residents to utilize their weapons to protect their communities. In a statement, it was mentioned that house-to-house searches were being carried out to locate Tigrayan sympathizers. The city was filled with growing anxiety as tensions rose due to news of military progress by Tigrayan forces. A taxi driver named Dereje, who chose not to share his full name due to the tense atmosphere, expressed his intention to join the conflict, stating that he would not stay passive and would fight for his children and country. However, a teacher, who also did not reveal his name, mentioned that he had lost trust in the Ethiopian government. "They deceived us by claiming that TPLF had been defeated," he stated, in reference to the Tigray People's Liberation Front. "I am extremely concerned about what will happen. May God assist us." President Joe Biden, who has threatened to impose sanctions on Ethiopia unless it agrees to peace talks, announced on Tuesday that he would withdraw trade privileges for Ethiopia, including duty-free access to the United States, due to "serious violations of internationally recognized human rights." In a separate press briefing, Jeffrey Feltman, the Biden administration's envoy to the Horn of Africa, warned that the escalating conflict could have severe repercussions for Ethiopia's unity and its relationship with the United States. Ethiopian soldiers who were defeated were paraded through Mekelle after the Tigray Defence Forces took control of the regional capital on June 25, 2021. Billene Seyoum, a spokesperson for Abiy, did not provide a response to a request for comment. Ethiopian soldiers who were defeated are being marched through Mekelle following the fall of the regional capital to the Tigray Defence Forces on June 25, 2021. Ethiopia’s Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration stated that revoking trade privileges would have a negative impact on the country's economic progress and disproportionately affect women and children. The statement emphasized Ethiopia's commitment to holding perpetrators of serious human rights violations accountable. The escalating situation in Ethiopia has raised concerns in the region, with fears that the conflict could spread to neighboring countries like Kenya or result in a surge of refugees crossing borders. Despite being praised by the West for winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019, Abiy has faced mounting criticism over the past year as the conflict in Tigray escalated, leading former allies to criticize his actions. The recent criticism has mainly focused on Ethiopia's harsh blockade of Tigray, which has hindered the delivery of essential supplies such as food and medicine to a region where the United Nations estimates that 5.2 million people are in urgent need of assistance and 400,000 are facing famine-like conditions. After the US threatened sanctions against Abiy's government in September, he accused the West of neocolonial bias and expelled seven senior UN officials, including a humanitarian aid coordinator in Tigray. The Ethiopian military recently launched an offensive against Tigrayan forces, including airstrikes on Mekelle. Abiy has attributed his losses to unknown foreigners fighting alongside the Tigrayans. In Addis Ababa, security forces have begun rounding up ethnic Tigrayans, raising concerns of reprisals as rebels advance. International attempts to encourage both sides to engage in negotiations have been unsuccessful. Despite evidence that Abiy's military is struggling, he continues to carry out military operations. The Tigrayans claim they are fighting to end a siege that is causing suffering and starvation in their region. Western pressure on Abiy has been minimal, according to Gen Tsadkan Gebretensae, a top strategist for the rebels. Human rights organizations have accused Tigrayan fighters of abuses, including the killing of 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 has not provided any evidence to support this claim. The Tigrayans have been advancing southward into the Amhara region since July, engaging in a prolonged battle that has largely gone unnoticed due to internet blackouts and restrictions on reporting. A significant development occurred over the weekend when Dessie and Kombolcha, strategically important towns along a key north-south highway, were captured. This highway has become a crucial battleground that may determine the future of Ethiopia. As the Tigrayans continue their advance south, they have aligned with the Oromo Liberation Army, a smaller rebel group advocating for the rights of the Oromo, the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia. After years of fighting in rural areas, the OLA is now making inroads into urban areas in Ethiopia. Odaa Tarbii, a spokesperson for the OLA, announced on Tuesday that they had taken control of a town located 120 miles north of Addis Ababa and planned to move south with the Tigrayans in the next two or three days. Throughout much of the conflict, Abiy had strong support from neighbouring Eritrea, whose soldiers entered Tigray early in the war in late 2020 and were accused of committing serious atrocities against civilians. However, in recent weeks, the Eritreans have not been involved in the latest fighting for reasons that are unclear, according to Tigrayan and Western officials. Getachew Reda, a spokesperson for the Tigray People's Liberation Front, stated that the Ethiopian military was falling apart as it retreated south, leaving behind armed ethnic militias. He mentioned that the command and control structure had collapsed, which was confirmed by two unidentified Western officials due to diplomatic concerns. If the Tigrayans keep advancing to the south, officials said Abiy will probably experience significant pressure from both within his political allies and on the battlefield. © 2021 The New York Times Company.