Fighting has intensified across Ethiopia, particularly in the Tigray, Afar, and Amhara regions, following a four-year truce that has been shattered by secessionist rebels from Tigray. The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has reportedly launched a "full-scale offensive" involving infantry, mechanized units, and drones, while the federal government has stated it repelled these attacks, inflicting heavy casualties and seizing weapons. The escalation has disrupted air travel, with Tigrayan forces seizing three airports and Ethiopian Airlines suspending all flights to the region due to the precarious situation.
The conflict has expanded geographically, with Tigrayan forces reportedly capturing Abala, a district capital in neighboring Afar, and launching artillery attacks on towns like Yallo. There are growing fears of a return to a devastating civil war, following a previous conflict estimated to have caused 600,000 deaths and resulted in 750,000 internally displaced people in Tigray. The situation is exacerbated by economic hardship, with reports of civil servants not receiving budgets and banks running out of cash, leading to distress among residents in Mekelle.
Adding another layer of complexity, seven armed groups from across the country, including the TPLF, announced the formation of the Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival. This new coalition aims to depose the current government led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, indicating a broader challenge to the federal authority. The renewed hostilities mark a significant and concerning development for the East African nation of 140 million people.
