Leaders of the northern Ethiopian region of Tigray have declared a new war with the federal government, following months of growing animosity between the two sides. The announcement was made on Wednesday, after fighting broke out in Tigray and two neighbouring regions, Afar and Amhara. This development comes four years after the Pretoria Agreement was signed in November 2022, aimed at ending the 2020-2022 civil war between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and federal forces.
The TPLF-led regional administration stated that the Tigray Forces have been instructed to counter the attack and have entered a defensive war. This move follows the formation of an alliance between the TPLF and six other armed groups from across Ethiopia, aimed at overthrowing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government. The alliance was announced on Sunday, and has been met with accusations from the federal government that the TPLF is seeking to create chaos.
According to Getachew Reda, an adviser to Abiy and a former TPLF official, the TPLF has seized control of federally controlled airports in Tigray and launched an “all out offensive” against government positions in Afar and Amhara. This has led to Ethiopian Airlines suspending flights to the region. The developments have been confirmed by multiple sources, including a senior Ethiopian government official, a diplomatic source, a humanitarian source, and another source with links to the TPLF and an allied militia.
In Afar, Tigrayan forces are fighting alongside a local armed group, while in Amhara, they are fighting alongside the Fano militia. Fano had previously sided with the federal government during the 2020-2022 war but rose up against it in 2023. The group is a member of the new alliance with the TPLF. The federal government has accused the TPLF of violating the Pretoria Agreement.
The conflict has garnered international attention, with Eritrea being accused of supporting Ethiopian armed groups. Eritrea’s information minister declined to comment on the latest developments, despite repeated denials of accusations that the country supports Ethiopian armed groups. Abiy’s spokesperson, Billene Seyoum, stated on Monday that members of the newly announced alliance had been collaborating with the financial backing of Eritrea.
The conflict in Tigray has resulted in significant human suffering, with hundreds of thousands of deaths reported during the 2020-2022 civil war. The new fighting raises concerns about the humanitarian situation in the region and the potential for further escalation. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, with diplomatic efforts underway to resolve the conflict.
The situation remains fluid, with spokespeople for Abiy, the federal government, and the TPLF not immediately responding to requests for comment on Wednesday. The conflict highlights the complex and fragile nature of Ethiopian politics, with multiple armed groups and regional interests at play.
Key points
- The TPLF has formed an alliance with six other armed groups from across Ethiopia to overthrow Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government.
- Fighting has broken out in Tigray and two neighbouring regions, Afar and Amhara.
- The federal government has accused the TPLF of violating the Pretoria Agreement and seeking to create chaos.
