Press Release
Ethiopia's Duplicity on Its "Troop Withdrawals"

The Ethiopian regime falsely claimed yesterday that it has pulled back its invading troops from western Eritrea as it has accomplished "its mission." This claim contradicts the statement made by the Ethiopian Foreign Minister the same day in Algiers who stated that troop withdrawals were done in the "south west" only.

What are the facts?
1. The declared mission of the Ethiopian invasion was to "defeat the Eritrean army, march to Asmara and topple the government." This mission has been totally frustrated with Ethiopia sustaining more than 60,000 losses in its human wave attacks in the first two weeks of intense confrontations alone. This is discounting the heavy losses that Ethiopia has sustained in the battles on the Senafe front in the last five days.

2. Ethiopia has been forced to retreat because the tide has begun to change. In the battles from last Friday until Sunday on the Senafe front, Ethiopia has lost most of its elite divisions. Two of Ethiopia's elite divisions were decimated in the battle on the left flank of Senafe in the Ambassoira Mountains last Sunday in a twelve hour battle. Ethiopian radio announced Sunday evening that there was no battle in this area. This is reminiscent of the Tsorona debacle last year when Ethiopia first denied the occurrence of any battle and later said that it had inflicted 23,000 casualties on Eritrea.

3. Ethiopia has begun to retreat from the areas where it is facing intense military pressure (Senafe, Tsorona, Mai Mine, Mai Dima, etc.) But, Ethiopian troops did not withdraw from Barentu and other areas they still occupy in western Eritrea despite their false assertion yesterday. On the contrary, Ethiopian troops have occupied Tessenei and other towns on the road and are looting property.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Asmara, 31 May 2000