Tigray security forces have detained a dozen of opposition members on Sunday in Quiha sub-city of Mekele town who were taking part in a national clean-up campaign launched by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Abraha Desta of Arena Tigray said.

This would amount to the largest crackdown against the opposition members of the region who are seen as sympathising with the initiative of Prime Minister Abiy, whom the regional government is actively opposing.

Those arrested included Tsigabu Koba, the deputy control commission of Arena Party and Nebiyu Sihul Mikael, a lecturer at Mekele University and member of the party, Abraha said. Some of them were badly beaten and they required hospitalization, he said. “From the information we gathered, we were told they were arrested for participating in the clean-up campaign, others told us it was rather for gathering and planning to demonstrate against the administration,” he said. More than ten prisoners were forbidden to have any contact with their families and party leaders and their whereabouts remained unknown, the Arena leader said.

The sub-city’s deputy police inspector Gebre Kirstos Gebre Meskel admitted there was indeed arrests but the reason was the individuals were acting to disturb the peace and tranquillity of the area. They were told over the microphone to disperse but they refused, he said. They even attempted to attack police forces, he told VOA Amharic.

Prime Minister Abiy started a nationwide campaign to encourage residents to clean up their neighbourhood. But the initiative has another purpose, promoting unity and reconciliation in the country, officials said.

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which dominated the country’s ethnic coalition for over 27 years before Abiy’s ascension is in frequent confrontation with the Prime Minister and the central administration.

Image: Abraha Desta VOA

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