Home · World · Oct 16 archive

Ethiopia Names New Tigray Government Amid Ongoing Conflict

Updated 12:14 PM ET · 11:25 AM ETConfirmed

World Desk

In Short: Al Jazeera (Qatar) reported that Eritrea has asked the United Nations to take “deterrent measures” after what it called Ethiopia’s “declaration of war” in the Tigray conflict.

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has established a caretaker government in Tigray to stabilize the region and prepare for elections within six months, according to Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) and Channelafrica (South Africa).

Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) reported that the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) led an offensive last month against Abiy’s government, reigniting a conflict that previously killed hundreds of thousands between 2020 and 2022. Channelafrica (South Africa) corroborated this, noting that since fighting erupted, Ethiopia’s military and a pro-government militia have made significant advances, taking control of large parts of Tigray, including the regional capital Mekelle.

Al Jazeera (Qatar) reported that Eritrea has asked the United Nations to take “deterrent measures” after what it called Ethiopia’s “declaration of war” in the Tigray conflict. The same report cited Addis Ababa’s accusation that Eritrean troops had advanced up to 60 kilometers into Ethiopia’s Tigray, a claim disputed by Eritrea.

The BBC (United Kingdom) reported that TPLF fighters were patrolling the streets of Mekelle on Wednesday, with both sides accusing each other of launching offensives, escalating fears of a return to full-scale conflict.

Both Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) and Channelafrica (South Africa) noted that the TPLF, Tigray’s ruling party, dominated Ethiopian politics for decades until Abiy took office in 2018. Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) quoted Abiy as saying, “To attain the peace that has long eluded them, to secure their right to self-administration, and to finally enjoy the fruits of development — which have been out of reach for many years — the people of Tigray must break free from this cycle of conflict.”

Al Jazeera (Qatar) reported that Eritrean troops have deployed in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region, threatening to turn an internal conflict into a wider regional war. The report cited a diplomatic source who said that drone strikes likely caused explosions at the army headquarters in Addis Ababa.

The Guardian (United Kingdom) reported that civilians are trying to flee as men and boys are being rounded up on streets by a new alliance of armed groups in Tigray, with witnesses describing a broad campaign of forced recruitment targeting men and boys between the ages of 15 and 65.

Both Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) and Channelafrica (South Africa) reported that Tigray is yet to recover from the humanitarian toll of the previous war, which pushed hundreds of thousands into famine.

Despite the conflicting claims and accusations, all outlets agree that renewed conflict has led to the severing of ties between Ethiopia and Eritrea, and that the situation in Tigray remains volatile with significant humanitarian concerns.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) led an offensive last month against Abiy’s government, reigniting a war that killed hundreds of thousands between 2020-22.
• The TPLF, Tigray’s ruling party, dominated Ethiopian politics for decades until Abiy took office in 2018.
• Since fighting erupted, Ethiopia’s military and a pro-government militia have made significant advances and taken control of large parts of Tigray including the regional capital Mekelle.
• Renewed conflict has led to the severing of ties between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

What's still developing

• A TPLF spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
• On 28 th of September, as the ENDF pushed back against the TPLF and the ARDUF in the Afar region neighbouring Tigray, the head of the region told reporters that Eritreans were fighting directly on the side of the rebels.
• These developments have reignited concerns regarding a potential new large-scale conflict, similar to the 2020–2022 war that left at least 600,000 people dead.
• The ongoing battles, which intensified from September 23, are the worst violence seen since the 2020-2022 civil war, which caused hundreds of thousands of deaths.
• Home » News » Tigray Internet Shutdown Reported as Fighting Intensifies in Northern Ethiopia Communications across Tigray are disrupted as renewed northern Ethiopia fighting escalates.
• A separate report by UMD Media said telecommunications services across Tigray went down at approximately 10:21 p.m. local time on September 24.
• "This force is being struck by drones," he said, adding Eritrea was "deliberately deploying its forces so that the fighting takes place inside Tigray rather than spilling into Eritrea".
• Getachew said in a statement shared on social media: "It is rather heartbreaking to learn that, despite efforts by many, including the international community, to avoid yet another round of war in Tigray, the TPLF leadership early this morning launched an all-out offensive against government positions in Afar and Amhara."
• Throughout August and September, the region of Tigray – Ethiopia’s northernmost constituent state, with an estimated population of roughly 7 million – has been subjected to federal air and drone attacks.
• Armed conflict never solves problems but only worsens them, leaving in its wake a trail of death, destruction, and resentment.
• The TPLF’s leader, Debretsion Gebremichael, said in a video published late Thursday that “the war is regional and it is a war to control the Red Sea”.

Sources

• Arabnewslink
• Channelafricalink
• horn reviewlink
• teleSUR Englishlink
• Al Jazeeralink
• Moderndiplomacylink
• Kulu-Medialink
• AFPlink
• BBClink
• Theconversationlink
• Aleteialink
• Theafricareportlink
• The Guardianlink
• WarpBeat — background on Ethiopia and Eritrea Sever Ties Amid Tigray Conflict link
• WarpBeat — background on Ethiopia and Eritrea Sever Diplomatic Ties Amid Tigray Conflict link
• AP Archive — video link