Latest news on the war in Ethiopia

The renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia is intensifying, as federal government forces and Tigray fighters are battling in various areas of the Tigray region, while the conflict has spread to neighboring Afar and Amhara regions.

This new fighting significantly undermines the Pretoria peace agreement that ended the Tigray war from 2020 to 2022 in November 2022, which caused extensive loss of life and displacement.

Recent reports indicate that at least 52 civilians have been killed in three days of fighting around Alamata, although the overall casualty figures remain difficult to independently verify.

The fighting is not limited to Tigray alone, but has reached the Afar and Amhara regions, with Tigray forces reportedly taking control of the Erebti area in the Afar region, where the fighting has raised concerns about the security of the vital road connecting Ethiopia and Djibouti.

This road is crucial for Ethiopia's trade and the import of goods and fuel through the ports of Djibouti,

The Amhara region has also reported fighting around North Wollo and areas near Lalibela.

The Ethiopian government has stated that hundreds of Tigray fighters have been killed in the fighting, however, the casualty figures provided by the warring sides have not been independently verified.

The situation has further deteriorated after officials from the Ethiopian government and the Afar administration accused Eritrea of being involved in the new fighting.

The Deputy Governor of the Afar region has told the media that Eritrea is responsible for the attack that occurred in the region, while other Ethiopian officials have accused Eritrea of providing support to TPLF forces.

These accusations come at a time when the relationship between Ethiopia and Eritrea has deteriorated in recent times. Eritrea has previously denied allegations related to supporting armed groups opposing the Ethiopian government, thus the claims regarding the extent and manner of Eritrea's involvement in the conflict still require independent verification.

The tension is also related to a new alliance formed by armed groups opposing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government.

TPLF is reported to have joined an alliance formed by seven armed groups, including the Amhara Fano and the Oromo Liberation Army.

These groups have different interests and conflicts, particularly regarding the dispute over Western Tigray land and Ethiopia's political future, which further complicates the situation.

The fighting has also had a significant impact on civilians, with MSF reporting that the number of injured people admitted to the Korem and Alamata hospitals has increased from approximately 180 to more than 420 within 48 hours, with hundreds more treated at other medical facilities.

Other reports indicate that nearly 150,000 people have been displaced by the new fighting, while communication and internet services have been cut off in parts of Tigray, making it difficult to access news and humanitarian aid.

The resurgence of fighting has heightened concerns that Ethiopia may return to the large-scale conflict of 2020–2022. The African Union and the IGAD regional bloc have called for the warring parties to cease hostilities and return to negotiations.