DID Press: Fighting between Tigray forces and Ethiopia’s federal government has intensified four years after the Pretoria agreement ended the devastating Tigray war, raising concerns that the country could again slide into a wider conflict.
Forces affiliated with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) took control of three major airports in Mekelle, Axum and Shire on Sept. 23, prompting Ethiopian Airlines to suspend flights to the three cities.
Fighting has also been reported in parts of Tigray and the neighboring Afar region, with clashes and military activity raising concerns over a broader escalation.
The African Union has expressed concern over the renewed violence, saying the seizure of civilian airports is inconsistent with commitments made under the Pretoria peace agreement. It has called on both sides to exercise restraint, halt actions that could escalate tensions and return to dialogue.
The latest escalation follows months of disagreements over implementation of the Pretoria agreement, disputed territories and the return of displaced people. Sporadic clashes and airstrikes have also been reported in Tigray in recent months, alongside increased military movements by both sides.
Tigray forces have described their latest actions as part of a “defensive war,” while the federal government has characterized the developments as attacks on its positions. The two sides therefore offer conflicting accounts of how the latest wave of fighting began.
The Tigray war, which lasted from 2020 to 2022 between Ethiopia’s federal government and Tigray forces, became one of Africa’s deadliest conflicts. The African Union has estimated that about 600,000 people were killed during the war.
The renewed violence, alongside armed activity in Amhara and Oromia and the formation of a seven-group opposition alliance, has heightened concerns about a broader resurgence of conflict in Ethiopia.