Airstrikes and artillery fire have struck northern Ethiopia's Tigray region, resulting in clashes between federal government and rebel forces. The violence has raised fears of a wider conflict. According to aid sources, air attacks killed at least 17 people northwest of Tigray's capital Mekelle. The federal government forces exchanged artillery fire with fighters loyal to the Tigray People's Liberation Front, part of a rebel alliance aiming to overthrow Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government.
The clashes have sparked concerns of escalating violence in the region. Analysts believe the fighting threatens to escalate into a wider conflict, with Ethiopia accusing neighboring Eritrea and Sudan, and beyond them Egypt, of supporting the armed opposition. All three countries have denied these allegations. Last week, Ethiopia and Eritrea severed diplomatic ties over the allegations.
The conflict has already resulted in significant humanitarian concerns. Overnight, airstrikes killed at least nine people in Adwa, about 100 km northwest of Mekelle, and eight in Sheraro in northwestern Tigray. Another aid worker confirmed the strikes in Adwa but did not have information about casualties. The humanitarian bulletin did not specify who launched the airstrikes.
The situation in Mekelle, which Tigrayan forces left without a fight, appears to be returning to normal. Residents reported that shops have reopened, and phone and internet access have been restored after a week-long disruption. However, the US State Department has urged restraint from both Eritrea and Addis Ababa, warning that a conflict would jeopardize US collaboration with both countries.
Eritrean forces had previously fought in support of Ethiopia's federal government in Tigray during the 2020-2022 war. Relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia soured afterward, in part over landlocked Ethiopia's insistence that sea access is vital for its security and economy. In a speech to parliament, Abiy emphasized the need for Ethiopia to have access to the sea, stating that "Ethiopia's modernization cannot be realized without sea access."
The crisis has prompted regional discussions. On Sunday, the leaders of Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan, and Somalia met to discuss the crisis, agreeing to coordinate military and intelligence efforts if the conflict escalated to the borders Ethiopia shares with Eritrea, Sudan, and Somalia. Abiy has stated that Ethiopia intends to secure sea access through peaceful means, while Eritrea fears that Ethiopia will try to take its Assab port by force.
The fighting since September 23 is the worst escalation of violence since a 2020-2022 civil war in Tigray that resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths. The situation remains volatile, with heavy artillery fire exchanged between Ethiopia's military and Tigrayan forces close to the Tekeze River near the town of Mai Tsebri. The international community remains concerned about the potential for a wider conflict.
Key points
- At least 17 people killed in airstrikes northwest of Mekelle
- Ethiopia and Eritrea severed diplomatic ties over allegations of support for armed opposition
- Regional leaders agree to coordinate military and intelligence efforts to address the crisis
