Ethiopia’s Tigray Crisis: Renewed Conflict Fears Amid Internal Strife and Eritrean Tensions

The ongoing internal divisions within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and escalating tensions with Eritrea pose significant risks of renewed conflict in Ethiopia, two years after a peace deal aimed at ending the Tigray war. Socio-economic distress and political struggles compound the challenges facing the region, with calls for urgent action to prevent further violence.

Following a two-year peace deal after the Tigray conflict, internal strife within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) is renewing fears of violence in Ethiopia. Heightened tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea further exacerbate the situation, creating an environment laden with uncertainty and insecurity.

Residents in Tigray, still grappling with the aftermath of the brutal 2020-2022 war that resulted in around 600,000 fatalities, are facing severe socio-economic pressures marked by fuel shortages, rapid bank withdrawals, and skyrocketing food prices. This state of alarm raises concerns over a potential resurgence of conflict in the region.

Recent clashes in Tigray’s capital, Mekele, erupted following the dismissal of three high-ranking officers from the Tigray Defense Forces (TDF) by the interim administration. Following these events on March 11, the TDF swiftly regained control over essential government institutions and appointed a new mayor for Adigrat, Tigray’s second-largest city.

Central to the ongoing crisis are internal divisions within the TPLF, primarily related to the stalled implementation of the November 2022 peace agreement. With over a million individuals displaced and Eritrean forces remaining within Ethiopia, regional tensions are mounting. Historian Gérard Prunier highlights Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s reluctance to fulfill the peace deal, suggesting his objective is to further marginalize the Tigrayans who previously held power.

The leadership conflict between Getachew Reda, Tigray’s interim administrator, and TPLF president Debretsion Gebremichael intensifies the overall instability. Concurrently, relations with Eritrea are deteriorating, with reports of President Isaias Afwerki meeting TDF leaders, thereby complicating the already volatile diplomatic landscape.

Prunier addresses the potential for Eritrea’s involvement in fostering secessionist sentiments, positing that President Afwerki may seek to weaken Ethiopia. General Tsadkan Gebretensae warns that an imminent war between Ethiopia and Eritrea could erupt, calling for immediate interventions to ensure that Tigray does not become a battleground in a broader regional conflict. He emphasizes, “We have suffered enough.”

The situation in Ethiopia, particularly in Tigray, is increasingly fragile due to internal divisions within the TPLF and escalating tensions with Eritrea. Socio-economic unrest in Tigray fuels fears of renewed conflict, exacerbated by political power struggles and the stagnant peace process. Furthermore, involvement from Eritrean leadership raises alarms about future military conflict, necessitating urgent measures to restore peace and stability in the region. Failure to address these issues may lead to further suffering for the Tigrayan population.

Original Source: international.la-croix.com