Ethiopia’s army chief has accused Eritrea and Sudan of supporting armed groups attacking government forces in the northern region. This comes as intense fighting has resumed between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the federal government, sparking fears of a resurgence of the civil war that claimed around 600,000 lives from 2020 to 2022.
The TPLF claims it is conducting a “defensive war” against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government, having seized airports and launched strikes into the Afar and Amhara regions. A humanitarian source reported that the town of Erebti in Afar fell to TPLF rebels after heavy shelling, with the group now advancing towards Afdeera, about 100 kilometres east.
Around 150,000 people have reportedly been displaced in Afar due to the conflict. Field Marshal Birhanu Jula stated on the army’s YouTube channel that external forces are aiding the TPLF and Eritrean fighters, asserting that they cannot operate effectively without this support.
In a separate development, the TPLF has allied with seven other armed groups, mirroring tactics from the previous conflict by moving south through Amhara towards the capital, Addis Ababa. Their campaign in Afar seeks to cut off supplies from Djibouti, crucial for Ethiopia’s trade.
On Sunday, a drone strike hit the headquarters of Tigrai TV, a key media outlet for the TPLF in Mekelle. A journalist confirmed they heard an explosion and fled the building; subsequently, the station was rendered off-air. The federal government previously suspended the station indefinitely and prohibited other media from broadcasting its content.
Since Friday, communication in Tigray has been severely disrupted, complicating efforts to report on the conflict. There are concerns of a repeat of the blockade experienced during the last civil war, which saw essential services and aid supply cut off. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed alarm over reports of drone use and threats to civilians.
Despite having substantial military assets, including drones and a force of about 500,000 troops, the Ethiopian government may face increased involvement from Eritrea, which fears Ethiopia’s ambitions to control access to the Red Sea. Previous governance by the TPLF lasted from 1991 until 2018, when they were ousted during Abiy’s rise, triggering a violent conflict characterised by war crimes and sexual violence.
The Pretoria Peace Agreement of 2022 brought a temporary calm; however, it was never fully implemented, leaving many unable to return home and sparking sporadic clashes as tensions rise again. Rights groups allege that the TPLF has begun forced recruitment in anticipation of further conflict.
