Tigrayan rebels have seized control of airports in northern Ethiopia, sparking clashes with federal troops in the Afar region. Multiple sources confirmed the developments on Wednesday, as long-standing tensions between the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and the federal government spilled into open conflict. The TPLF fought a devastating civil war with the federal government from 2020 to 2022, resulting in an estimated 600,000 deaths.
The recent clashes broke out in the towns of Abala and Erebti late on Tuesday between the TPLF and federal forces. Humanitarian staff working in the Afar region reported the fighting, with one staff member stating that they were expecting the conflict to expand. A foreign security source in Ethiopia confirmed the clashes and said the TPLF was in control of Abala, a town located in mountain ranges marking the border with Tigray.
The TPLF has reportedly taken control of several towns in the Afar region, including Berhale, Erebti, Abala, Megale, Dalul, and Konoba. A former TPLF senior official stated that federal forces were "fast-retreating." In response to the clashes, the Tigray regional government said it was responding to "intensive bombardments" by federal forces on Tuesday, involving aircraft, drones, and artillery.
The Tigrayan rebels have seized control of airports in the regional cities of Mekelle, Shire, and reportedly Axum. Ethiopian Airlines has suspended flights to all three cities. An employee at Alula Aba Nega Airport in Mekelle reported that the airport had been taken over by Tigray forces, with a small number of federal police guarding the airport.
A former TPLF leader, Getachew Reda, who joined the federal government, described the new fighting as "heartbreaking." He stated that the TPLF leadership had launched an all-out offensive against government positions in Afar and Amhara. However, the fighting in Amhara could not be independently verified.
The TPLF recently announced its joining of a new alliance of anti-government armed groups from across Ethiopia. The alliance includes groups from the country's most populous regions, Oromia and Amhara. The TPLF ruled Ethiopia from 1991 to 2018 before being sidelined with the rise of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, leading to the civil war.
The conflict has raised concerns about the humanitarian situation in the region, which has not recovered from the last war. Around one million people remain displaced, and many aspects of the peace agreement remain unfulfilled. The federal government has a significant military advantage, having increased production of military drones since the last conflict. Rights groups have accused the TPLF of forced recruitment this year as it prepares for renewed conflict.
Key points
- The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has seized control of airports in northern Ethiopia, sparking clashes with federal troops in the Afar region.
- The recent clashes are a resurgence of the devastating civil war between the TPLF and the federal government, which killed an estimated 600,000 people from 2020 to 2022.
- The conflict has raised concerns about the humanitarian situation in the region, with around one million people still displaced and many aspects of the peace agreement unfulfilled.
