Ethiopia: At least 52 civilians killed in Tigray clashes, hospital sources tell BBC

Clashes broke out last week after months of tension between Ethiopia's government and the party that controls Tigray, with both sides accusing each other of violating a 2022 deal that ended a two-year civil war.

Social media clips showed army tanks and armoured vehicles passing through Alamata, according to the BBC. Hospital sources said the military had taken control of the town from regional fighters.

The fighting has also affected neighbouring areas. Thirty-three tourists have been stranded for the past week in Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its 13th century rock-hewn churches. A British tourist told the BBC's Newsday programme that fighting, gunfire and artillery cannons had been heard throughout the week, and that a large military presence remained in the town. Most visitors have been unable to leave since the airport closed to commercial flights, though 14 Israeli tourists were evacuated by military helicopter on Monday.

Fighting around Lalibela has involved the army and an Amhara militia that has allied with Tigrayan fighters. In September, the two forces joined other Ethiopian armed movements to form a seven-member alliance with the stated intention of removing the government in Addis Ababa.

There are also fears that neighbouring Eritrea could be drawn into the conflict. Ethiopia's government accuses Asmara of supporting the armed groups, something Eritrea denies.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The renewed fighting threatens to unravel the 2022 ceasefire that ended a two-year civil war, risking a return to large-scale conflict in northern Ethiopia.
The involvement of an Amhara militia alongside Tigrayan fighters broadens the conflict beyond Tigray and raises the prospect of a multi-front war.
The strandest of tourists in Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage site, highlights the immediate humanitarian and economic consequences for civilians and the region's cultural heritage.

Background

Ethiopia is a federal state made up of ethnically based regions, and Tigray has been a flashpoint for years. The 2022 peace deal ended a two-year civil war between the federal government and Tigrayan forces, but implementation has been uneven and both sides have repeatedly accused each other of violations. The current escalation follows months of rising tension and coincides with the formation of a new armed alliance seeking to remove the government.

Key Perspectives

Federal government: It says it is responding to violations of the 2022 deal and accuses Eritrea of backing armed groups, a claim Asmara denies. Tigrayan forces and allied Amhara militia: They have joined a seven-member alliance that says it wants to remove the government in Addis Ababa, describing their fight as a continuation of their political struggle. Civilians and tourists: People in Alamata and Lalibela are bearing the brunt of the violence, with reports of sustained artillery fire and tourists unable to leave the area. Eritrea: Denies government accusations that it is supporting the armed groups, while regional observers fear it could be pulled into the fighting.

What to Watch

Whether federal forces advance on Mekelle and trigger a new front in the conflict.
Whether Eritrea becomes militarily involved despite its denials.
How the alliance of Tigrayan fighters, the Amhara militia and other armed groups holds together.
The fate of the 33 tourists still stranded in Lalibela and whether the airport reopens.

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