Agencies | Addis Ababa:
Ethiopia’s federal military has pledged to exercise restraint amid escalating fighting in the country’s north, as renewed clashes involving Tigrayan forces raise fears that the Horn of Africa nation could slide back into a wider civil war.
Army Chief of Staff Field Marshal Berhanu Jula, in his first public comments on the latest military developments, said federal forces were responding to what he described as provocations from the Tigray front with “wisdom and restraint”.
Jula also accused neighbouring Eritrea of financing and supporting armed groups seeking to weaken Ethiopia. He described the newly formed Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival as part of a longstanding pattern of hostile alliances, arguing that such groups could not challenge the Ethiopian state without external backing.
Eritrea has denied the accusations. Asmara has repeatedly rejected similar claims of supporting Ethiopian armed groups.
The latest escalation follows the formation of an alliance of seven armed groups, including the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the Amhara Fano National Movement and factions from Oromia, Afar and Benishangul-Gumuz. The coalition has declared its objective of removing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government.
Fighting has spread beyond Tigray into neighbouring Afar and Amhara regions. In Afar, clashes have been reported around Abala, where federal forces have sought to prevent rebel groups from gaining control.
In North Wollo, an Amhara zone bordering Tigray, the Ethiopian army said it killed 272 Tigrayan fighters and wounded another 260 in a counter-offensive. The figures could not be independently verified.
The TPLF, meanwhile, has accused the federal government of launching a “full-scale offensive” involving infantry, mechanised units and drones. Abdisalam Balema, a member of the TPLF central committee, described the situation as a “full war”.
Clashes have also been reported around Sama, Soqota and Raya Alamata, with government forces reportedly moving towards Alamata. Earlier this week, Tigrayan forces seized control of three airports in Tigray—Mekelle, Axum and Shire—prompting the suspension of civilian air services.
The Ethiopian military command has said it prefers what it calls “strategic calm” over a large-scale confrontation, arguing that the Tigray front is losing popular support and that divisions exist within its leadership.
The escalation has placed renewed pressure on the Pretoria Agreement, signed in November 2022 to end the two-year Tigray war. The African Union has described the agreement as the cornerstone of lasting peace in Ethiopia and called for an immediate halt to actions that could further escalate the conflict.
The United Nations has also expressed grave concern over the deteriorating security situation, citing intensified fighting in and around Tigray and its spread into neighbouring areas. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged all sides to exercise maximum restraint, protect civilians and resume dialogue under the Pretoria framework.
Internet connectivity was reportedly disrupted across parts of northern Ethiopia, while concerns have also been raised over the reported use of drones in areas where civilians are present.
The renewed fighting comes amid wider tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, including disputes linked to Ethiopia’s search for access to the Red Sea. Analysts have warned that the domestic conflict could become increasingly intertwined with rivalries elsewhere in the Horn of Africa, including the war in neighbouring Sudan.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, Ethiopian President Taye Atske-Selassie portrayed Ethiopia as a force for regional stability and accused unnamed external actors of interfering in the country’s affairs. He also highlighted Addis Ababa’s involvement in regional peace efforts, including those concerning Sudan.
The breakdown of the Pretoria peace process has also drawn criticism from academics and analysts. Alemayehu Weldemariam, a professor of law at Indiana University, told Al Jazeera that the federal government bears significant responsibility for the agreement’s failure, pointing to restrictions on fuel, services and cash in Tigray and the delayed establishment of the interim administration envisaged under the accord.
The renewed hostilities have therefore emerged as the most serious test yet of the 2022 peace agreement, with the possibility of further escalation raising concerns not only for Ethiopia but for stability across the wider Horn of Africa.
