The Tigray region of Ethiopia is facing escalating instability, with warnings of potential conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea driven by internal TPLF dissensions. The situation threatens regional humanitarian efforts, risking a significant crisis reminiscent of past conflicts.
The Tigray region of Ethiopia is experiencing increasing instability, with reports indicating potential conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Experts have raised alarm bells about the situation escalating into a war. Flights in Tigray have reportedly been canceled, signifying heightened tension. According to media sources, there is fresh instability following a civil war that concluded with a peace deal in November 2022, which resulted in substantial casualties.
General Tsadkan Gebretensae warned of imminent warfare, highlighting that splits within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) could exacerbate tensions. One faction governs under Ethiopia’s interim administration, while another opposes it, leading to fears of rekindled violence. The TPLF’s internal conflict could deepen the rift between Ethiopia and Eritrea, a nation formerly involved in supporting Ethiopian forces against the TPLF.
Recent events include a TPLF faction seizing Adigrat, a significant town near the Eritrean border, which they accuse the interim leadership of betraying Tigrayan interests. The interim head, Getachew Reda, has sought assistance from the Ethiopian government to counter this faction, asserting that external influencers may be involved in instigating conflict. He warned against the potential repercussions for Tigray’s civilian population.
The prospect of renewed violence poses a threat to peace and humanitarian efforts in the Horn of Africa. Analysts warn that such a conflict could undo progress made since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019, potentially leading to humanitarian crises in a region already burdened by conflicts in Sudan and Somalia. Experts emphasize that a war involving Ethiopia and Eritrea could destabilize an already volatile situation, complicating international aid efforts in conflict-affected areas.
The Tigray region’s situation is precarious, with rising tensions indicating the risk of renewed warfare between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The internal fractures within the TPLF and the political climate raise concerns over both regional stability and the welfare of civilians in Tigray. Experts caution that renewed conflict may lead to severe humanitarian crises, undermining years of peace efforts.
Original Source: www.catholicnewsagency.com
