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Geopolitics

Eritrean Troops Enter Tigray as Tensions Flare Between Ethiopian Government and TPLF

Residents in Adigrat report soldiers moving towards areas of fresh clashes, raising fears of renewed conflict

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time1 min
Eritrean soldiers have crossed into northern Ethiopia and are heading towards areas where clashes have erupted between Ethiopian federal troops and Tigrayan regional forces, residents in the town of Adigrat have told the BBC. The fighting, which broke out two weeks ago, follows months of rising tensions between the government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), with both sides accusing each other of violating a 2022 peace deal that ended a devastating two-year civil war.

The latest unrest comes after the launch in September of a new alliance of armed groups in Ethiopia that includes the TPLF. Over the weekend, TPLF forces withdrew from Tigray's main city of Mekelle, which is now under the control of the national army. Ethiopia's government had previously accused Eritrea of backing the TPLF, a claim that Asmara has denied.

Eritrea was a key ally of Ethiopia during the 2020-2022 war, fighting alongside federal forces against the TPLF in a conflict that pushed Tigray to the brink of famine. However, relations between the two neighbours have since deteriorated. The reported movement of Eritrean troops deeper into Tigray territory signals a potential escalation in a region still recovering from the last war.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • Any renewed fighting threatens to unravel the fragile 2022 peace deal and could plunge the Horn of Africa back into a large-scale conflict.
  • Civilians in Tigray, already suffering from the aftermath of war and humanitarian crisis, face further displacement and hardship.
  • Regional stability is at risk, with potential spillover effects into neighbouring countries including Eritrea itself.

Background

The 2020-2022 war between Ethiopia's federal government and the TPLF was one of the deadliest conflicts this century, marked by widespread atrocities and a near-famine in Tigray. A peace agreement brokered in 2022 halted most hostilities, but underlying tensions over territory, disarmament and political control have never been resolved. Eritrea, which fought on the side of Ethiopian forces during the war, has seen its relationship with Addis Ababa sour in the months since.

Key Perspectives

Ethiopian government: Accuses the TPLF of violating the peace deal and forming new alliances, and has expressed concern over Eritrea's actions. It insists its military operations are aimed at maintaining national unity. Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF): Blames the federal government for breaches of the 2022 agreement, including the continued presence of non-Tigrayan forces. It says the new alliance is a defensive measure. Eritrea: Has denied backing the TPLF. Its reported troop movements are not officially confirmed, but residents' accounts suggest it is acting unilaterally, risking a wider confrontation.

What to Watch

  • Whether Eritrea officially confirms or denies the reported incursion.
  • The response of the African Union and other international bodies, which helped broker the 2022 deal.
  • Any further military moves in and around Tigray, especially towards the border with Eritrea.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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