ADDIS ABABA — Heavy fighting has erupted between Ethiopian government forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in western Tigray, marking one of the most significant military confrontations in the region since the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement.
According to a statement issued by the TPLF, Ethiopian federal forces opened what the group described as a “new front” in the conflict, launching what it said was a long-planned military offensive. The TPLF accused the Ethiopian government of seeking to eliminate the movement entirely through military force.
The TPLF warned that the renewed fighting could have serious consequences for regional stability and called on the international community to closely monitor developments and help prevent a wider escalation of the conflict.
Meanwhile, French broadcaster France 24 reported that Ethiopian government forces are using drones and heavy weaponry, including tanks, during the ongoing military operations. The fighting has reportedly continued for several hours, although there has been no immediate official statement from the Ethiopian government regarding the clashes or the TPLF’s allegations.
The renewed violence raises concerns over the fragile peace established under the Pretoria Agreement, which formally ended the devastating two-year conflict in northern Ethiopia that claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions of people.
It remains unclear whether the latest clashes could evolve into a broader military confrontation, but observers warn that any significant escalation would threaten the stability of northern Ethiopia and undermine ongoing efforts to preserve the peace process.
