Ethiopia and TPLF resume fighting as 2022 peace truce shatters
Ethiopia returned to violent conflict as a 2022 peace truce shattered following renewed fighting between federal forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
The Collapse of the Tigray Truce and Escalation of Fighting
For nearly four years, Ethiopia maintained a fragile peace following the conclusion of one of the deadliest modern civil conflicts, which resulted in an estimated 600,000 deaths and severe famine conditions in the northern Tigray region. That peace dissolved this week when the TPLF initiated what its leadership termed a “defensive” military campaign aimed at ousting Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The exact catalyst remains disputed by opposing authorities. On Wednesday, the TPLF claimed that federal government forces opened fire on its troops, necessitating an immediate military response. Federal authorities in Addis Ababa presented a contradictory account, stating that armed insurgents launched an unauthorized “all-out offensive” targeting federal military positions across the Afar and Amhara regions, while also seizing control of three regional airports inside Tigray.
Getachew Reda, an advisor to Prime Minister Abiy and a former TPLF official, criticized the escalation on social media, writing that the leadership of the paramilitary organization had taken irresponsibility to unprecedented heights. In response to the offensive, the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) reported disabling 272 enemy troops and capturing 260 others while executing planned counterattacks from established military installations. Regional telecommunications infrastructure, including internet access and phone service, remains severely disrupted across northern Ethiopia.
Alliances, Regional Pressures, and Strategic Realignment
Unlike previous phases of the conflict, the TPLF has expanded its tactical reach through a newly announced coalition formed with six other armed opposition factions. Announced on Sunday, this alliance includes prominent political groups that boycotted national elections held in June. Prime Minister Abiy’s Prosperity Party previously secured approximately 90 percent of available seats in the lower house of parliament, though voting did not take place within the Tigray region.
Federal officials have further accused the insurgent leadership of seeking strategic alignment with neighboring Eritrea. While Eritrean forces previously fought alongside Ethiopian federal troops during the initial Tigray war, bilateral relations between Addis Ababa and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki have deteriorated significantly. Asmara has publicly denied involvement in the current resurgence of hostilities. However, historical tensions—particularly Eritrea’s persistent concerns regarding landlocked Ethiopia potentially seeking access to the Red Sea—continue to complicate regional diplomacy.
International Diplomatic Push for De-escalation
Foreign governments and multilateral institutions have moved quickly to condemn the resumption of hostilities, warning against a wider regional war. The African Union Commission issued a formal call for an immediate cessation of violence, while East Africa’s regional bloc urged maximum restraint from all participating factions. Concurrently, the United States ambassador to Ethiopia demanded an immediate return to structured political dialogue.
The Tigray regional government released a statement affirming that its armed forces will continue fighting to ensure the protection, rights, security, and sovereignty of the local population.
As the conflict deepens, humanitarian agencies and local stakeholders face mounting operational hurdles.