ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopia’s federal government and authorities in the northern Tigray region have accused each other of launching military offensives, raising fears that the country could be heading towards a new full-scale conflict nearly four years after the devastating Tigray war ended.
Getachew Reda, an adviser to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, accused the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) of launching an offensive against federal positions in the neighbouring Afar and Amhara regions and taking control of federally administered airports in Tigray.
Tigrayan authorities, however, said their forces had been pushed into what they described as a “defensive war” after reports of attacks and bombardments in the region.
Tigray Forces Take Control of Airports
Tigrayan forces reportedly took control of airports in Mekelle, Axum and Shire, disrupting civilian air travel.
Ethiopian Airlines subsequently suspended flights to the three airports, citing the security situation.
The African Union Commission confirmed the seizure of the airports and expressed concern over the detention of federal personnel and the disruption of civilian flights.
Residents in Mekelle told the BBC that local forces had taken control of the city’s airport from federal security personnel.
The developments followed reports of drone strikes in Tigray in recent days.
Both Sides Accuse Each Other
Getachew said the TPLF leadership had launched an “all-out offensive” against government positions in Afar and Amhara.
The Tigray authorities gave a different account, accusing federal forces of launching an “open invasion” of the region and saying their forces were responding defensively.
Reports of fighting have emerged in parts of southern Tigray and Afar, with humanitarian and security sources warning that the violence could spread.
Drone Strikes Raise Further Concerns
Tigrayan authorities said a strike in the southern town of Alamata on Tuesday killed at least 14 people and injured 22 others.
Local officials alleged that drones and a fighter jet carried out multiple strikes and accused federal forces of targeting two secondary schools.
The US State Department has also called for an investigation into a separate drone strike it said targeted a convoy of Catholic vehicles carrying food aid.
Pretoria Peace Deal Under Strain
The renewed fighting threatens the Pretoria Agreement, the African Union-brokered peace deal signed in November 2022 that formally ended the two-year Tigray conflict.
The agreement remains the central framework for resolving the dispute between the federal government and the TPLF.
Both sides have in recent months accused each other of failing to implement key provisions of the agreement, while tensions have continued to rise.
In July, Prime Minister Abiy accused the TPLF of preparing for renewed conflict.
The TPLF also restored its pre-war regional administration earlier this year, replacing the interim administration that had been established by the federal government.
TPLF Joins New Armed Alliance
The latest escalation comes days after the TPLF announced an alliance with six other Ethiopian armed groups seeking to challenge Abiy’s government.
The alliance, known as the Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival, brings together groups from several regions, including former adversaries.
The development has intensified concerns that the Tigray conflict could become part of a wider confrontation involving multiple armed groups.
The Ethiopian government has accused the alliance of receiving support from Eritrea, a claim Eritrea has denied.
AU Calls for Immediate De-escalation
African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf has called for an immediate end to actions that could escalate the conflict and urged the federal government and TPLF to resume direct talks.
The AU said the seizure of the civilian airports was inconsistent with commitments made under the Pretoria Agreement.
Youssouf has also asked former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, the AU’s High Representative for the Horn of Africa, to urgently engage the parties and support renewed diplomatic efforts.
Ethiopia Warns of Further Conflict
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie said his government had shown “immense restraint” despite what he described as interference by adversarial elements.
He did not identify those elements.
The renewed violence comes after a war that the African Union has estimated killed about 600,000 people between 2020 and 2022 and caused widespread displacement, destruction and humanitarian suffering.
With fighting now reported across parts of Tigray and neighbouring regions, diplomatic efforts are focused on preventing the latest clashes from developing into another prolonged conflict.
