The Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENCF) has accused the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) of siding with Tigrayan soldiers who refused to board a flight to Ethiopia from the Juba airport on February 22.

 The ENDF director of indoctrination Maj General Mohammed Tessema (pictured) told the UNHCR to apologise claiming the body had sided with the Tigrayan soldiers to malign the name of Ethiopia, by portraying the country as repressive.

According to the military boss, the soldiers who were serving in peace keeping mission under the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) were members of the TPLF troops that have engaged the Ethiopian troops in Tigray.

By refusing to take a flight home, Maj General Mohammed said the soldiers were creating drama at the Juba airport to paint the Ethiopian government in bad light. He accused them of pulling stunts to entice violence back at home. But on the other hand, the soldiers have reportedly expressed fears that they could be victimised when they jet back home.

 “This morning, 169 members of the Ethiopian contingent were due to rotate out of Juba and (be) replaced by fresh contingents, a part of a normal rotation,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Monday, as was reported by AFP.

He added the soldiers are in the hands of the South Sudan Ministry of Refugee Affairs.

He said, “[They] remain safe in the care of South Sudanese and UNHCR authorities, and they are being assessed. But, their right to request asylum and protection is being taken extremely seriously and is being respected.’’