Ethiopia offers bounty for fugitive Tigray leaders

By Seleshi Tessema

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AA) - The Ethiopian military on Friday announced a 10 million birr (roughly $257,000) reward for information on fugitive leaders of the now-outlawed Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).

The leaders are thought to have fled the capital of the northern Tigray region, Mekele, once it fell to army forces last month.

"The award will be given to those who will provide information on the whereabouts of the leaders of TPLF or hand them over to officials," public broadcaster FANA TV quoted Lt. Gen. Asrat Denero of ENDF as saying.

On Nov. 4, Ethiopia launched a "law enforcement operation" in the country's northernmost region of Tigray after the TPLF attacked the northern command of the Ethiopian Defense Forces.

Tens of thousands of people are reported to have fled the fighting to Sudan during the military operation, which lasted until Nov. 28 when premier Abiy Ahmed declared an end to the military operation following Mekele's capture.