Ethiopia's army chief, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, has accused neighboring countries Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt of supporting rebel troops in the Tigray region. In a statement on Friday, Jula claimed Eritrea was mobilizing financial support for the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). He suggested that Eritrea and the TPLF needed support from Sudan and Egypt, but did not provide further details. The accusations have been denied by the countries involved.
The TPLF and Ethiopian federal troops waged war between November 2020 and November 2022, resulting in a peace deal signed in Pretoria, South Africa. A caretaker administration seen as loyal to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was installed in Mekelle, the Tigray capital. However, tensions remained, with the TPLF maneuvering for political control in Mekelle. Over the weekend, TPLF fighters captured the strategic town of Erebti in the northern Afar region.
The capture of Erebti was confirmed by a commander who spoke on condition of anonymity, as well as an official with the Tigray Peace Force, a breakaway faction of the Tigray rebels now allied with federal forces in Afar. However, the official denied that heavy fighting had taken place. The renewed fighting has resulted in a surge in the number of wounded receiving treatment in the north, with Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reporting a significant increase in patients in hospitals.
MSF reported that the number of patients in the Korem and Alamata hospitals rose from around 180 to more than 420 in 48 hours. The organization also said that 300 wounded had arrived at northeastern Suhul Hospital last week. Valerie Browning, co-founder of the Afar Pastoralist Development Association, estimated that around 150,000 people had been displaced due to the conflict.
Ethiopian federal authorities have accused the TPLF of seeking to build an alliance with neighboring Eritrea to destabilize Ethiopia. Prime Minister Abiy's push for sovereign access to the Eritrean seaport of Assab has reignited tensions with Eritrea, which shares a border with Tigray. Abiy's efforts to negotiate access to the sea via Somaliland have also angered Somalia.
Eritrea has accused Ethiopia of shifting blame for the ongoing conflict. Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Meskel wrote that Ethiopia's pursuit of access to the sea had rattled Eritrea and Somalia, while its move to host militia training in support of Sudan's militia had put Ethiopia at odds with its neighbors. A spokesperson for the Sudanese armed forces rejected Ethiopia's accusations, saying that Ethiopia was offering support to militias fighting the Sudanese military.
The conflict in Tigray has resulted in significant human suffering, with Ghent University researchers estimating a civilian death toll of 500,000, including from violence, famine, and the collapse of health services. Eritrean troops fought alongside Ethiopian forces against the TPLF in the 2020-2022 Tigray conflict. The regional tensions are escalating, with the international community watching closely for further developments.
Key points
- Ethiopia's army chief accuses Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt of supporting Tigray rebels.
- The TPLF has captured strategic towns in the northern Afar region, resulting in a surge in wounded and displaced people.
- The conflict has reignited tensions between Ethiopia and its neighbors, including Eritrea, Sudan, and Somalia.
