Tigray faces renewed war, regional power plays, and humanitarian crises as clashes widen and civilians flee; a frontline of Ethiopia’s politics.
Clashes have intensified between Ethiopian federal forces and the TPLF in western Tigray near the Sudan border. Civilians are fleeing, and both sides accuse the other of violating the Pretoria peace deal. The fighting follows months of deteriorating relations since the Pretoria agreement and raises fears of a wider conflict in the region.
Eritrea has welcomed the lifting of U.S. sanctions, saying the move removes a political impediment to investment and broader cooperation. Officials cite a shift in U.S. policy and ongoing regional security concerns as drivers for renewed engagement, including talks on trade, Egypt relations, and Red Sea security.
Tigrayan rebels have seized Mekelle’s airport and a regional hub, triggering flight suspensions and signaling renewed instability in northern Ethiopia as rival forces align against the government. Flights to Mekelle, Axum and Shire are halted while authorities assess next steps.
A coalition of seven armed groups has formed to topple Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, escalating violence in northern Ethiopia. After gains in Mekelle and other fronts, flights to Mekelle have been suspended amid the current security situation as clashes widen in Afar and Amhara. The Pretoria peace framework remains challenged as parties accuse one another of violations.
Judges in The Hague have convicted Mahamat Said Abdel Kani for running a detention facility in Bangui where Bozizé supporters were tortured during the 2013 conflict. The verdict finds torture and persecution proven; some charges are dismissed as the conflict was deemed over at the time. Sentencing will be set later.
Fighting between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and the Ethiopian government has intensified, with the TPLF and its allied groups seizing airports and moving across Afar and Amhara. The conflict risks a return to the 2020–22 civil war, prompting international concern over civilian harm and humanitarian access.
UN officials warn of civilian protection risks as fighting in northern Ethiopia intensifies, airports in Mekelle, Shire and Axum are seized, and humanitarian access is disrupted amid drone usage and internet outages. The UN calls for restraint and safe, unimpeded aid delivery as civilians face growing displacement and hunger.
The Tigray Peoplea Liberation Front has intensified clashes with Ethiopian federal forces in Afar, with towns including Abala and Erebti reported to be in fighting. Humanitarian staff warn the violence could expand, while reports place TPLF units in several Afar towns near the Tigray border.
Meskel is being celebrated across Ethiopia with bonfires and prayers, while fears of a wider war in Tigray persist as flights are disrupted and families are separated by conflict.
Armed groups have formed an alliance to challenge Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration. Explosions have rocked Addis Ababa amid drone ban and ongoing clashes in Tigray; details remain unclear as authorities assess casualties and motives.
Fights in northern Ethiopia have escalated, with Ethiopian forces clashing with rebel groups in Tigray, Amhara and Afar. Ethiopia has closed its embassy in Asmara and expelled 10 Eritrean diplomats, prompting Eritrea to sever ties. The move raises regional tensions and could widen instability across the Horn of Africa.
Leaders from Egypt, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan have called for de-escalation while Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed reiterates Addis Ababa’s push for Red Sea access. The region’s tensions have intensified amid renewed fighting in Tigray and accusations of external backing for opposing forces. A multi-country summit in New Alamein has underscored the debate over sea access and coastal governance.
The UN warns of growing civilian harm as fighting and displacement intensify in Tigray, Baidoa and southern Lebanon, with attacks on healthcare and critical infrastructure; UNICEF and other agencies report mounting needs among children and families amid growing access challenges for aid.
Ethiopia has claimed Eritrean troops crossed into Tigray, intensifying clashes as both sides accuse each other of aggression. Eritrea denies the incursion while urging UN action; meanwhile, regional powers watch for potential spillover as Red Sea access and border security become flashpoints.
Ethiopia's federal government has moved to intensify operations in Tigray as Eritrean forces are reported to be active alongside allied groups. The conflict has returned to the fore, sparking fears of a regional war and severe humanitarian consequences for millions previously dependent on aid.
Clashes between Ethiopia’s Oromia and Somali regional forces have forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee across the border into Kenya’s Marsabit County. Humanitarian agencies have reported up to 50,000 crossings, mostly women and children. Aid groups and Kenyan authorities are scaling emergency assistance as local leaders warn host communities are stretched.
Fighting in northern Ethiopia has intensified after Mekelle’s fall, with rival factions forming a broad opposition alliance. A caretaker administration is being set up, while Eritrea accuses Ethiopia of aggression; both sides accuse each other of escalating the crisis. The conflict threatens regional stability and the ongoing humanitarian toll remains dire.
Authorities say rebel forces are collapsing and urge fighters to enter a disarmament program, while government troops and allies conduct security operations. A drone strike near Mekelle has killed several civilians as fighting continues three weeks after rebels lost the regional capital.
WHO says attacks on civilians in Amhara and Tigray, including a newborn, have strained hospitals and disrupted lifesaving care. Renewed fighting threatens to push the region toward collapse and risk wider destabilization.
Several Horn of Africa governments accuse each other of supporting rival armed groups. Ethiopia expels Sudanese diplomats and Sudan closes Ethiopian consulate as both sides push for diplomatic leverage amid drone attacks and regional instability. The UN and AU are being urged to intervene.