Fresh fighting in Ethiopia's Tigray sparks fears of return to war
Clashes between Ethiopian federal forces and Tigrayan regional forces have escalated this week, spreading to neighbouring regions and disrupting internet and cash access for residents.
Fighting has broken out this week between Ethiopia's national army and forces loyal to the Tigray region, raising fears among residents that the country could slide back into full-scale war less than four years after a devastating two-year conflict ended in 2022. Reports describe panic buying of food, while disruptions to internet and phone services have cut people off from their money in a region that has become largely cashless since ATMs stopped functioning months ago.
The clashes follow more than six months of deteriorating relations between the federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), despite a 2022 peace agreement brokered by the African Union. Both sides blame each other for the latest escalation, with the TPLF saying it responded to federal drone strikes, and the government accusing Tigrayan forces of seizing regional airports first.
Several unresolved disputes have undermined the peace deal, including the fate of western Tigray, territory Tigrayan forces lost early in the war to Amhara fighters, displacing hundreds of thousands of people. The TPLF wants the territory returned, while the government insists on a referendum. Disagreements over disarmament and Tigray's governance have deepened the rift, particularly after the TPLF reinstated its pre-war administration in May, dismantling a body appointed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
In September, the TPLF joined a new coalition of seven armed groups called the Alliance for Survival, alongside Amhara's Fano militia and the Oromo Liberation Army, united in seeking to remove Abiy's government. The government has accused Eritrea of backing armed groups inside Ethiopia, a claim Asmara denies, amid separate tensions over Red Sea port access.
The African Union, United Nations and regional bloc Igad have all called for an immediate end to hostilities and a resumption of talks, but trust between the parties remains extremely low. There are growing concerns the conflict could widen into neighbouring Amhara and Oromia regions and potentially draw in Eritrea.
