May 30, 2000 (7:55 am local time)
After Successfully Completing Their Mission, Ethiopian Defense Forces Withdraw from Western Eritrea
After successfully achieving their mission, the heroic Ethiopian defense forces that had been controlling western Eritrea since May 12 have now withdrawn. After completely shattering Eritrean positions at the western front and overrunning their highly-fortified trenches, the Ethiopian forces had moved into Eritrean territory in pursuit of Eritrean troops that were fleeing the Ethiopian attack. In addition to chasing and destroying the remnants of the Eritrean army, the Ethiopian defense forces were engaged in western Eritrea as part of their larger military strategy to liberate all Ethiopian territories under Eritrean occupation. Both objectives have been successfully achieved.
As the Ethiopian government has reiterated on numerous occasions, it has no interest in occupying sovereign Eritrean territory and, having achieved its goals, it has withdrawn its troops accordingly.
During the course of the Ethiopian defense forces' courageous military operations, many Eritrean troops were killed, wounded or captured. Those who managed to survive the Ethiopian blitzkrieg have fled for their lives in all directions. Large caches of Eritrean weapons, ammunition and other military supplies have also been captured or destroyed.
As a result of the humiliating and devastating defeat it suffered at the western and other fronts, the Eritrean army has fled from much of the Ethiopian territory that it had previously occupied and the Issaias regime has begged to continue the peace process, which it had obstructed so many times in the past out of arrogance and an erroneous belief in its military might. With the Eritrean army in ruins, the Issaias regime has pleaded to resume negotiations without any preconditions.
Chronology of Events at the Western Front, May 12-18
May 12:
Intense fighting began in the vicinity of the Mereb River. The Ethiopian forces overran several rows of trenches that were significant to the Eritrean troops and various strategic positions on both the right and left flanks of the front came under Ethiopian control. Within 24 hours, Ethiopian forces completely destroyed Eritrea's heavily fortified trenches (between the Tekezie and Mereb Rivers) along with eight divisions (more than 40,000 soldiers) of the Eritrean army.
May 13:
As the Eritrean army retreated in disarray, the Ethiopian ground forces pursued and destroyed them. Ethiopia captured a numbers of strategic positions, including Tikul, Dakonomia, Bishka, Mailam, Folina, Wehabit, Berkelatsia, Tsibra, Sifa, Shambeko, Binbina, Girme, Shilalo, Hadamo, Jarbit, Gojajilai, and Darsenay, among others.
May 14:
The Ethiopian defense forces captured several strategic positions, including Tekombia, Mulki, Adihakim, Gosma, Upper and Lower Maikokah, Tole, Kuluku, Adi Bigdi, and Adi Berbere, among others. The Ethiopian defense forces also captured Eritrean troops and material as they fled towards Barentu.
May 15:
The Ethiopian air and ground forces attacked and destroyed Eritrean troops as they unsuccessfully attempted to reorganize around Das, Barentu and Maidima after fleeing in disarray.
May 16:
The Ethiopian defense forces pounded the Eritrean forces in the vicinity of Das and Barentu that came from other parts of Eritrea in an unsuccessful attempt to rescue the troops who have been fleeing the Ethiopian offensive.
May 17:
The Ethiopian forces captured Das after annihilating the Eritrean troops that were trying to reorganize in that area.
May 18, Western Eritrea Falls:
The Ethiopian forces captured Barentu, which was the Eritrean military's command post and logistics supply center for the western front. With the capture of Barentu came the fall of western Eritrea, which represents approximately half of Eritrea's territory. Ethiopian forces also destroyed Eritrean troops that were fleeing from Barentu towards Akordat.
Issued by the FDRE Office of Government Spokesperson 30/05/2000
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