Insecurity has increased in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region in recent days. This comes as the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) reaffirmed its commitment to peace amid internal political tensions and rising regional instability. Many Tigrayans have expressed fears to DW that these tensions could reignite violence, more than two years after a devastating conflict claimed nearly 600,000 lives.
This situation unfolds as Ethiopia grapples with wider conflicts, including a civil war in the Amhara region where government forces continue their assault against the Fano militia –with numerous accounts of widespread human rights abuses, and ongoing attacks by the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) in the Oromia Region.
The TPLF, led by Debretsion Gebremichael, issued a statement on 5 February following Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s call for Tigrayan elites to resolve their differences peacefully, ensuring “the unity of the Tigrayan people.” The TPLF stated that “the foremost choice of the people of Tigray and its leadership is peace,” and called on all parties to play a “constructive role” in achieving this goal. “We want to confirm,” the statement said, “that we have been, are, and will be ready to work with all peace-seeking forces.”
The TPLF acknowledged its history of conflict, stating that struggles involving the people of Tigray over the past century were fought “to ensure their survival and not to give in to oppression.” The party asserted that these struggles for “sovereignty, freedom, and dignity” were “crucial moments that determined the state of their existence as a nation and a people.” However, the TPLF insisted that this history does not mean that “the people of Tigray have a culture of war.”
The TPLF reaffirmed the Tigrayan people’s desire for peace, highlighting their acceptance of the Pretoria Agreement, which ended the prior conflict. The party called on “all concerned parties to fully implement it,” noting that its lack of full implementation on the ground is a concern. “The people of Tigray want and support peace to be accompanied by action,” the statement said.
The TPLF’s statement comes amid a growing internal rift between the party leadership under Debretsion Gebremichael and the Tigray Interim Regional Administration (TIRA), headed by Getachew Reda. This division previously led to Getachew and others being removed from their roles by Debretsion’s group, while the interim administration under Getachew has repeatedly accused Debretsion’s faction of attempting to “destabilize” the region through a “coup d’état.”
Tensions escalated recently when senior members of the Tigrayan military forces called for the dissolution and restructuring of the interim administration. Their expressed support for one faction within the TPLF, abandoning their previously neutral stance, has transformed the political crisis into a potential military one.
Meanwhile, growing insecurity in the region is manifesting in practical ways. Soaring prices have led some locals to storm banks to withdraw money and stockpile food and essential goods. Many gas stations have run out of fuel, leading to a flourishing black market where a litre of petrol can cost up to 300 birr (£2.36), a 200% price increase.
The situation comes as Ethiopia is grappling with a civil war in Amhara region as government forces continue their assault against the Fano and in a war that considered by many against the Amhara people. Meanwhile, Oromo Liberation Army continues to conduct major attacks in Oromia Region.
