Ethiopia’s Tigray War concluded in November 2022, but ongoing conflicts in Amhara and Oromia regions pose challenges. The Tigray conflict resulted in widespread casualties and displacements, while political and ethnic tensions drive new violence. The road to lasting peace remains fraught with difficulties as historic grievances continue to affect the nation.
Ethiopia, possessing a rich history as one of the few African nations that were never significantly colonized, has endured significant unrest in recent years. Notably, the Tigray War, which lasted from 2020 to 2022, resulted in thousands of casualties and over two million displacements, severely impacting the country’s stability and pushing regions towards famine.
This conflict primarily involved Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s federal forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), a once-dominant party. Following the resolution of the Tigray conflict, Ethiopia now faces renewed violent internal strife involving militia groups from the Amhara and Oromia regions, highlighting ongoing tensions.
Initiated on November 4, 2020, the Tigray War was sparked by a military attack ordered by Abiy Ahmed, designed as a response to a perceived threat from the TPLF. Underlying political and historical grievances had intensified prior to this moment, leading to a full-scale conflict that garnered international condemnation, including a rare admonition from the Norwegian Nobel Committee urging Abiy Ahmed to fulfill his peacekeeping responsibilities.
The war concluded in November 2022 with the Pretoria Agreement, established through the African Union’s mediation, which included a ceasefire and conditions for restoring humanitarian access to Tigray, disarmament, and a cessation of hostilities.
Simultaneously, conflicts are escalating in the Amhara and Oromia regions, fueled by intricate political, ethnic, and territorial disputes. The Amhara have historically held power, while the Oromo, the largest ethnic group, have experienced systemic marginalization. Current tensions revolve around land disputes in resources-rich areas that transition between these ethnic groups, stemming from Ethiopia’s ethnic federalism.
Despite the formal end to the Tigray War, Ethiopia continues to confront significant challenges in its quest for enduring peace, with civilians suffering amidst ongoing violence in the Amhara and Oromia conflicts.
Ethiopia’s Tigray War, marked by profound loss and dislocation, officially ended in November 2022, yet the country remains beset by new conflicts. The complexities arising from ethnic tensions and historical grievances continue to pose significant challenges to peace. Moving forward, Ethiopia must address these internal conflicts while striving to meet humanitarian needs and establish a lasting stability.
Original Source: www.outlookindia.com
