The Tigray region of Ethiopia faces increasing tension, with indications of potential conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea, following a political split within the TPLF. Key leaders express concerns over the instability that could jeopardize peace efforts and lead to humanitarian issues in the Horn of Africa.
The situation in Ethiopia’s Tigray region is becoming increasingly unstable, with reports indicating a possible resurgence of conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea. A source has informed ACI Africa that church leaders have not yet commented on the developing situation, which has seen flight cancellations as tensions rise. This follows the end of a two-year civil war in November 2022, which resulted in significant loss of life.
General Tsadkan Gebretensae, a vice president in the interim Tigray administration, recently cautioned in The Africa Report that war could erupt at any moment. Concerns regarding renewed violence stem from a division within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the political faction previously in opposition to the Ethiopian federal government during the civil war. This internal strife has further complicated the already fragile peace established in 2022, which excluded Eritrea from negotiations.
A dissenting faction within the TPLF has captured the town of Adigrat and other key locations, reflecting a rift in loyalty towards Eritrean forces that previously supported Ethiopian troops. Getachew Reda, the head of Tigray’s interim administration, has called for government support against dissenters while warning of external influences, particularly accusing Eritrea of seeking to benefit from the unrest.
Analysts emphasize that any renewed conflict could jeopardize a fragile peace process that was pivotal enough to earn Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed a Nobel Peace Prize in 2019. Warnings from Reuters indicate that a new war could create a humanitarian disaster not only in Tigray but throughout the Horn of Africa, which is already grappling with crises in neighboring Sudan and Somalia.
In conclusion, the situation in Ethiopia’s Tigray region is precarious, with the potential for renewed conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The internal divisions within the TPLF further complicate the peace established after the last civil war. Observers warn that another outbreak of violence could lead to a humanitarian crisis in an already troubled region, jeopardizing the progress made since the 2019 peace accord.
Original Source: www.catholicnewsagency.com
