The United States has called for restraint and dialogue as Ethiopia's Tigray crisis continues to escalate, pulling in regional neighbours. The crisis began in September when fighting erupted in northern Ethiopia as rebels from the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) attacked neighbouring states, sparking fears of a return to the devastating civil war of 2020-2022. The US State Department said on Saturday that increasing cross-border tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea have the potential to affect the entire region.
A diplomatic source has confirmed that a mini-summit will be held on Sunday in Egypt, bringing together the presidents of Egypt, Eritrea, and Somalia, as well as the head of the Sudanese Armed Forces. The meeting aims to address the growing tensions in the region and find a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The summit will take place on the sidelines of an African Business Forum in Alamein, Egypt.
The conflict has prompted a regional diplomatic feud, with Ethiopia expelling 10 Eritrean diplomats and shutting its embassy in Asmara on Thursday. Eritrea responded by announcing that it would sever all diplomatic ties with its neighbour. Ethiopia also expelled an Egyptian diplomat without explanation, prompting a reciprocal move by Cairo. The tensions have raised concerns about the potential for a wider conflict in the region.
The TPLF's leader, Debretsion Gebremichael, said in a video message on Thursday that the war is regional and aimed at controlling the Red Sea. The group has long been the dominant force in Tigray, but was marginalised with the rise of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in 2018. The TPLF ruled all of Ethiopia from 1991 to 2018, but its insurgent campaign ultimately led to it retaking the city of Mekelle in mid-2021.
Ethiopian federal forces entered the capital of Tigray state on Saturday, according to a humanitarian source. Residents reported that the region's rebels had abandoned the city, and government offices and police stations had been left without security personnel. The journalist in Mekelle reported that TPLF militants and leaders are leaving the city, and locals expressed fears for their safety.
The conflict has sparked fears of a return to the devastating civil war of 2020-2022, which left more than 600,000 dead, according to the African Union. The Pretoria peace agreement of 2022, brokered by African institutions and Washington, maintained an uneasy calm until last year, but was never fully implemented. The US has urged Ethiopia and Eritrea to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of their neighbours and return to dialogue and cooperation.
The situation on the ground remains volatile, with telecommunications networks severely disrupted in Tigray since hostilities began. Locals in Mekelle said they feared for their safety, and the journalist in the city could not be reached for more details. Neither the spokesperson for the Ethiopian National Defense Forces nor that of federal Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has responded to requests for comment.
Key points
- The US has called for restraint and dialogue to resolve the Ethiopia's Tigray crisis.
- The conflict has sparked a regional diplomatic feud, with Ethiopia expelling Eritrean diplomats and Eritrea severing diplomatic ties.
- The situation on the ground remains volatile, with fears of a return to the devastating civil war of 2020-2022.
