A collective of diplomatic missions, including those of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union delegation in Ethiopia, has issued a statement expressing grave concern over the rising tensions and recent seizures of key towns in the Tigray region. The appeal comes amid a growing rift within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
The group, comprising embassies from nations like New Zealand, Japan, Norway, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Finland, and Sweden, are closely observing the unfolding events in northern Ethiopia.
Their unified message emphasizes staunch backing for the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement forged in November 2022, aimed at ending armed conflict. “The accord quelled the fighting, and a return to violence must be averted,” the statement asserted, urging all factions to prioritize de-escalation and engage in immediate dialogue to uphold the agreement. The international representatives offered their support in facilitating this process.
Conflict brew in Tigray region
The diplomatic maneuver arrives following a sequence of destabilizing events. A TPLF faction, under the command of Debretsion Gebremichael, seized control of the Adigrat town administration on Tuesday, removing officials loyal to interim regional president Getachew Reda. This was followed by a similar takeover of Adi-Gudem, near the regional capital Mekele, on Wednesday evening, leading to reported injuries from gunfire.
The TPLF’s internal divisions have deepened following an announcement from within its military structures to dissolve and reorganize the interim administration. This has triggered further turmoil, with Reda’s administration responding by suspending several high-ranking military officials, including Major General Yohannes Woldegiyorgis, Major General Masho Beyene, and Brigadier General Migbey Haile, for allegedly plotting a coup. Local sources have also reported that General Fiseha Kidanu, head of the Peace and Security Bureau, has been ousted, and that shootings have occurred in Mekelle.
The interim regional government has formally requested intervention from the Ethiopian federal government.
The backdrop to this escalating crisis is the 2020-2022 Tigray War, which pitted Ethiopian federal forces, alongside allied militias and Eritrean troops, against Tigrayan rebel forces.
The conflict is estimated to have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. The Pretoria peace accord established the current interim administration, led by Getachew Reda at the appointment of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, with a mandate to govern Tigray until democratic elections can be held. However, disputes over the implementation of the peace deal have caused a deep fracture between Reda and Debretsion Gebremichael.
These events also coincide with broader concerns regarding renewed tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Observers have noted the potential for the situation to erupt into renewed armed conflict that could destabilize the entire Horn of Africa region.
General Tsadkan Gebretensae, a vice president in the interim Tigray administration, recently warned that a war between Ethiopia and Eritrea could be imminent, a situation the dissident TPLF faction has allegedly encouraged by seeking alliance with Eritrea. These accusations are denied by the dissident group, with Getachew Reda calling for the federal government to take action against them.
