TIGRAY, 27 March, 2021 (TON): On Friday, the Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed affirmed that Eritrea will pull its troops out of Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region.

The announcement followed, as the PM faces the mounting pressure to end fighting in which both Eritrean and Ethiopian troops stand accused of abuses including mass killings and rapes.

Troops were deployed in the region in the wake of TPLF attacks on the camps.

For months both Addis Ababa and Asmara denied Eritrean troops were in Tigray, contradicting accounts from residents, aid workers, diplomats and even some Ethiopian civilian and military officials.

Finally, Abiy finally admitted Eritrea's role in an appearance before lawmakers on Tuesday, then flew Thursday to Asmara to meet with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki.

After the meeting, Abiy tweeted, "The government of Eritrea has agreed to withdraw its forces out of the Ethiopian border. The Ethiopian National Defense Force will take over guarding the border areas effective immediately."

However, the Eritrean information minister Yemane Gebremeskel did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.