Concerns are mounting over a potential return to civil war in Ethiopia following an offensive by Tigrayan rebels into the neighboring states of Afar and Amhara. The escalation coincides with the formation of a new rebel coalition explicitly aimed at overthrowing the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which functions as both a political party and a paramilitary group, has launched military operations that have intensified tensions in the region. This development marks a significant shift in the security landscape, with the new coalition signaling a broader challenge to the federal government’s authority.
Both the Ethiopian army and the rebel forces are currently accusing one another of triggering the return to open conflict. The mutual accusations highlight the fragile nature of the peace that has held since the end of the previous major conflict, as both sides point to the other’s actions as the primary cause of the renewed hostilities.
The current escalation follows a devastating war fought between 2020 and 2022 between the Ethiopian army and the TPLF. That conflict resulted in an estimated 600,000 deaths, leaving deep scars on the country and its population. The memory of this loss looms large as fighting resumes in the northern states.
As the offensive expands into Afar and Amhara, the situation remains volatile. The formation of the new rebel coalition suggests that the conflict may not be limited to the Tigray region alone, potentially drawing in broader political and military dynamics across Ethiopia.
<small>Source: The Guardian — read the original story there.</small>
