🇪🇹🇪🇷 - Ethiopian and Uguugumo-affiliated media report that the Ethiopian Armed Forces, ENDF, have withdrawn from the Afdera area of northern Afar. It remains unconfirmed whether Uguugumo forces advancing from Dalol have captured the town of Afdera. Interesting observation: While the ENDF continues to advance through the harsh terrain of Tigray against the far more formidable Tigray Defense Forces, it has seemingly allowed Uguugumo rebels to seize vast swathes of open territory in Afar that could otherwise be defended using Ethiopia’s air and drone power. Compounding this is Addis Ababa’s decision to bar international media from entering northern Afar to cover the Uguugumo offensive, with access restricted to Ethiopian state-backed outlets and of course al-Jazeera. The only individuals permitted to speak with al-Jazeera have been pro-Addis Ababa Afar regional officials, all of whom have repeated the exact same line: Eritrean forces are involved in the Uguugumo offensive. Map key: - Red: Tigray Defense Forces, - Blue: Fano, - Purple: Uguugumo.