WHO: Eritrean troops murdered uncle in Tigray

• WHO’s director-general says his uncle was “murdered” by Eritrean troops.
• Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the comment in Geneva.
• He has criticized Ethiopia’s role in the conflict.

WHO’s director-general says his uncle was “murdered” by Eritrean troops in Ethiopia’s war-torn northern Tigray area.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the comment in Geneva on Wednesday. He was “not in good form” and it was “a challenging moment” for him.

Former Tigrayan minister Tedros Adhanom is WHO’s director general. He has criticized Ethiopia’s role in the conflict that killed tens of thousands and displaced millions.

The 57-year-old told reporters his uncle was killed by the Eritrean army. My mother was distraught since he was their youngest and my age, a young uncle.

After two years of warfare, the Ethiopian government and Tigray forces decided to end hostilities in November.

Eritrean and Amhara forces who fought with Ethiopia’s in Tigray were not part of the South African truce.

“I hope this [peace] accord holds and this lunacy stops, but it’s a really tough period for me,” Tedros said, adding that more than 50 people died in the same incident. He didn’t reveal the attack’s location or time.

Tedros told Reuters that his cousin was killed in a church bombing in Tigray last year, but he gave no details.

Tedros expressed alarm on December 2 regarding areas under Eritrean control.

2020 saw the war in Tigray. Tigrayan forces fought federal troops and their allies, Eritrea and Amhara. The conflict caused incalculable fatalities, displaced 2 million people, and drove hundreds of thousands to the verge of hunger.

The Ethiopian government opposed Tedros’ second term as director of the global health agency and accused him of seeking to arm rebels. He denies the claims.

Ethiopian and Eritrean officials didn’t immediately react to the allegations.

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