Airstrikes and artillery fire have intensified in northern Ethiopia's Tigray region, with at least 17 people killed northwest of Tigray's capital Mekelle. According to a bulletin circulated among humanitarian groups, the clashes are between federal government forces and rebel forces loyal to the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). The TPLF is part of a rebel alliance aiming to overthrow Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. The situation has raised fears of wider fighting and potential escalation into a regional conflict.
The clashes have resulted in significant humanitarian concerns, with aid sources reporting airstrikes killing at least nine people in Adwa and eight in Sheraro in northwestern Tigray. The bulletin did not specify who launched the airstrikes. An aid worker confirmed the strikes in Adwa but did not have information on casualties. The situation on the ground remains volatile, with both sides exchanging heavy artillery fire close to the Tekeze River near the town of Mai Tsebri.
The conflict has drawn international attention, with leaders of Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan, and Somalia meeting to discuss the crisis. According to Egyptian security officials and a political official, the leaders agreed to coordinate military and intelligence efforts if the conflict escalated to the borders Ethiopia shares with Eritrea, Sudan, and Somalia. The meeting comes amid allegations that Ethiopia's neighbours are supporting the armed opposition, which all three countries have denied.
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 conflict has significant implications for regional stability, with analysts warning of a potential wider conflict. Ethiopia and Eritrea, which fought a border war from 1998-2000, severed diplomatic ties last week over allegations of support for the armed opposition.
In Mekelle, which Tigrayan forces left without a fight, daily life is slowly returning to normal. Residents reported that shops are reopening, and phone and internet access have been restored after a week-long disruption. However, the situation remains fragile, with the potential for further escalation. The US State Department has urged both Asmara and Addis Ababa to exercise restraint, warning that a conflict would jeopardise US collaboration with both countries.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has emphasised the need for Ethiopia to have access to the sea, stating that "Ethiopia's modernisation cannot be realised without sea access." Abiy was sworn in for another five-year term following his Prosperity Party's landslide victory in June's parliamentary elections. Eritrea has expressed concerns that Ethiopia may try to take its Assab port by force, which Abiy has said will be secured through peaceful means.
The international community remains concerned about the potential for wider conflict, with the US warning of the consequences of an escalation. The situation in Tigray remains volatile, with ongoing clashes and humanitarian concerns. The conflict has significant implications for regional stability and global security, with efforts underway to find a peaceful resolution.
Key points
- At least 17 people killed in airstrikes northwest of Mekelle.
- Clashes between government forces and rebel groups loyal to TPLF.
- International community urges restraint amid fears of wider conflict.
