THE fugitive leader of Ethiopia’s Tigray region called on Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed yesterday to “stop the madness” and withdraw troops from the region as he asserted that fighting continues “on every front” two days after Mr Abiy declared victory.

Debretsion Gebremichael told the Associated Press agency that he remains near the Tigrayan capital Mekele, which the Ethiopian army said on Saturday that it now controlled.

Far from accepting Mr Abiy’s declaration of victory, the Tigray leader asserted that “we are sure we’ll win.”