The Tigré forces have taken control of key airports in northern Ethiopia, including the Alula Aba Nega airport in Mekele, the capital of Tigré, as well as airports in Aksoum and Shire. This development has led to a surge in clashes with the federal army in the neighboring Afar and Amhara regions. The Ethiopian national airline, Ethiopian Airlines, has suspended flights to and from these cities due to the current situation in Tigré.
Clashes broke out on Tuesday evening between Tigré forces and the federal army in Abala and Erebti, in the Afar region bordering Tigré. Humanitarian sources have confirmed the fighting, while a foreign security source reported that Abala had fallen under Tigré control. A former high-ranking TPLF official claimed that several other Afar localities had also been captured by Tigré forces, with the federal army in retreat.
The Tigré forces and federal army have also engaged in clashes along the border with the Amhara region. Getachew Reda, a former TPLF official now in the federal government, accused the Tigré forces of launching a large-scale offensive against government positions in Afar and Amhara. However, the de facto authorities in Tigré describe their operations as a response to a federal invasion, claiming they have ordered their forces to engage in a "defensive battle".
The escalation in violence comes three days after the announcement of an alliance between seven opposition groups, including the TPLF, Amhara Fano groups, and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA). The alliance aims to overthrow the federal government and establish a transitional administration. Tensions between Addis Ababa and Tigré have worsened in recent months, with troop deployments and drone strikes against Tigré forces.
The TPLF, which ruled Ethiopia for nearly three decades before Abiy Ahmed's 2018 takeover, is no longer recognized as a legal political party by federal authorities. The renewed conflict raises fears of a collapse of the fragile peace established by the Pretoria agreement in November 2022. The 2020-2022 war between federal forces and Tigré forces devastated northern Ethiopia, resulting in an estimated 600,000 deaths and over 1 million displaced people.
The African Union has called for "the greatest restraint and immediate de-escalation" in response to the deteriorating situation. The conflict has sparked concerns about a potential large-scale war in northern Ethiopia. With neither the federal government nor TPLF leaders announcing a ceasefire, the resumption of fighting threatens to rapidly expand hostilities across several northern regions.
The situation remains volatile, with ongoing clashes and no clear path to de-escalation. The international community is watching closely, as the conflict has significant implications for regional stability and humanitarian concerns.
Key points
- Tigré forces capture key airports in northern Ethiopia, sparking clashes with federal army.
- African Union calls for de-escalation amid escalating violence in Ethiopia.
- Conflict raises fears of large-scale war, humanitarian crisis in northern Ethiopia.
