The leaders of Ethiopia's northern region of Tigray announced on Wednesday that they have entered a new war with the federal government, following the outbreak of fighting in Tigray and two neighboring regions. This development comes four years after a civil war between the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and federal forces resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths. The Pretoria Agreement, signed in November 2022, had brought an end to the conflict, but growing animosity between the two sides has led to the current escalation.
The TPLF had recently formed an alliance with six other armed groups from across Ethiopia, with the aim of overthrowing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. 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 the neighboring regions of Afar and Amhara. This has led to Ethiopian Airlines suspending flights to the region.
Sources close to the developments in Tigray, Afar, and Amhara confirm that armed groups are siding with the Tigrayans. In Afar, Tigrayan forces are fighting alongside a local armed group, while in Amhara, they are fighting alongside the Fano militia. Notably, Fano had sided with the federal government during the 2020-2022 war but rose up against it in 2023 and is now a member of the new alliance with the TPLF.
The federal government has accused the TPLF of violating the Pretoria Agreement and seeking to create chaos. Abiy's spokesperson, Billene Seyoum, stated on Monday that members of the newly announced alliance had been collaborating with the financial backing of Ethiopia's neighbor and historic adversary, Eritrea. Eritrea has repeatedly denied accusations of supporting Ethiopian armed groups.
The TPLF-led regional administration announced that the Tigray Forces have been instructed to counter the attack and have entered a defensive war. This comes after months of growing animosity between the two sides, capped by the announcement of the alliance between the TPLF and six other armed groups. The situation remains volatile, with the federal government and the TPLF yet to comment on the latest developments.
Eritrea's information minister declined to comment on Wednesday about the latest developments. The international community is closely watching the situation, with concerns about the potential for further escalation and humanitarian crisis. The conflict has already led to the suspension of flights to the region and is expected to have significant implications for the region.
The conflict in Tigray and neighboring regions has significant implications for Ethiopia and the wider region. The situation remains fluid, with multiple sources confirming the developments in Tigray, Afar, and Amhara. The federal government, the TPLF, and Eritrea have yet to provide detailed comments on the situation, but it is clear that the conflict has the potential to destabilize the region.
Key points
- The TPLF has formed an alliance with six other armed groups from across Ethiopia to overthrow Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government.
- The federal government has accused the TPLF of violating the Pretoria Agreement and seeking to create chaos.
- Eritrea has repeatedly denied accusations of supporting Ethiopian armed groups.
