Ethiopian army chief Field Marshal Birhanu Jula has accused Sudan, Eritrea, and Egypt of supporting the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) as fighting escalates in northern Ethiopia. The TPLF has seized control of airports in the region, leading to a deterioration in relations between Ethiopia's federal government and the Tigray authorities. This development comes four years after a peace agreement brought an end to a devastating civil war.
Sudan's armed forces have dismissed the accusations as "baseless," stating that Khartoum remains committed to international law and good relations with its neighbors. The exchange occurs as tensions rise between Ethiopia's federal government and the Tigray authorities. Heavy fighting between the TPLF and federal forces resumed last week, with Tigrayan fighters pushing into the neighboring Afar and Amhara regions.
A humanitarian source has reported that the town of Erebti in Afar had fallen to Tigrayan forces following heavy artillery fire, with fighters advancing towards Afdeera, around 100 kilometers farther east. At least 150,000 people are estimated to have been displaced in Afar, although communication difficulties have made precise figures difficult to establish. The situation has raised concerns about a renewed humanitarian crisis.
Birhanu stated that Ethiopia is confronting armed groups that have organized with the backing of foreign powers. He accused Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt of providing support and supplies, although he presented no public evidence for the claims. Egypt and Eritrea have not publicly responded to the accusations. The accusations reflect a broader deterioration in relations between Ethiopia and several of its neighbors.
Sudan has itself repeatedly accused Ethiopia of assisting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been fighting the Sudanese army since April 2023. Khartoum has also alleged that drones used in attacks inside Sudan have operated from Ethiopian territory with support from the United Arab Emirates. Both Ethiopia and the UAE have denied those accusations.
The latest fighting has revived memories of the 2020-2022 war, which killed an estimated 600,000 people according to African Union estimates and was marked by widespread abuses, including sexual violence. Communications in Tigray have again been heavily disrupted, prompting fears among residents of a return to the isolation experienced during the previous conflict.
The headquarters of Tigrai TV in the regional capital Mekelle was struck by a drone on Sunday, with images showing damage to the building. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed concern over the renewed fighting, including reports of drone use and harm to civilians. The TPLF has recently joined six other armed groups in a new opposition alliance, and its latest offensive threatens routes linking landlocked Ethiopia with Djibouti.
Key points
- The Ethiopian army chief accuses Sudan, Eritrea, and Egypt of supporting the Tigray People's Liberation Front.
- Heavy fighting between the TPLF and federal forces has resumed, with Tigrayan fighters pushing into the neighboring Afar and Amhara regions.
- The renewed fighting has raised concerns about a humanitarian crisis, with at least 150,000 people estimated to have been displaced in Afar.
