Ethiopia’s Tigray region faces heightened tensions and fears of renewed conflict due to internal TPLF divisions and escalating issues with Eritrea. The humanitarian crisis continues as economic challenges persist, complicating post-war recovery. Key leadership struggles within the TPLF and potential Eritrean interventions further plague the region, prompting warnings of imminent warfare.
Ethiopia is experiencing heightened tensions in the Tigray region, more than two years after a peace agreement concluded the Tigray war. Internal divisions within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and increasing friction with Eritrea have raised concerns about a potential resurgence of conflict. The situation in Tigray is further strained by economic hardships, including fuel shortages, rapid bank withdrawals, and rising food prices, leaving citizens anxious and unsettled.
Since the Tigray conflict, an estimated 600,000 lives have been lost, leaving lasting scars on the community. In recent clashes, the Tigray Defense Forces (TDF) seized control of crucial institutions in Mekele, following the dismissal of three senior officers by the interim administration. On March 13, the TDF also captured Adigrat, the region’s second-largest city, marking a significant escalation in hostilities.
The core of the ongoing crisis lies in the internal rifts within the TPLF regarding delays in complying with the November 2022 peace agreement. There remain over a million displaced individuals yet to return home, and Eritrean troops still present in Ethiopia raise further complications. Concerns have emerged regarding Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s commitment to the peace deal, as Tigrayans express fears of continued marginalization.
The frictions within the TPLF leadership, specifically between interim administrator Getachew Reda and TPLF president Debretsion Gebremichael, exacerbate the situation. Tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea have escalated, highlighted by reports stating that Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki has engaged with TDF leaders in Asmara, a situation that Debretsion denies. This perceived alignment of Eritrea with the TDF introduces new uncertainty.
Urgent warnings have been issued regarding the potential for war between Ethiopia and Eritrea, with Gen. Tsadkan Gebretensae emphasizing the dire need for preventive measures. He articulated the pain endured by the Tigrayan populace and underscored the dangers of their region becoming a conflict arena in a broader geopolitical struggle between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
As the situation in Tigray continues to evolve, the ramifications of internal divisions within the TPLF, the overarching economic crisis, and the Ethiopia-Eritrea tensions present an increasingly volatile landscape with the possibility of renewed conflict looming on the horizon.
In conclusion, Ethiopia faces alarming internal divisions in Tigray, which, combined with increasing tensions with Eritrea, raises substantial fears of renewed conflict. The ongoing struggles within the TPLF leadership, the economic crisis affecting citizens, and Eritrea’s potential involvement all contribute to an increasingly precarious situation. Urgent measures are required to avert further violence and stabilize the region.
Original Source: international.la-croix.com
