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DW
16-07-2025
- Politics
- DW
A look at Eritrea's role as new Tigray war looms in Ethiopia – DW – 07/16/2025
Northern Ethiopia is growing increasingly tense two and a half years after the Tigray peace deal. Eritrea appears intent on sowing instability in the region. A new report traces how separatists have quietly rearmed. Reports of troop movements and sporadic clashes in northern Ethiopia have emerged in recent months, feeding concern that a fragile calm could soon collapse. The region is still reeling from the brutal two-year civil war between the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and federal government forces — a conflict that claimed an estimated 600,000 lives before it ended with the Pretoria peace agreement in November 2022. "We can't plan anything at the moment," a woman in Mekele, the capital of Ethiopia's Tigray region, told DW. "We're just trying to survive. A new war could break out tomorrow." She described a climate of fear that has gripped many residents. "Life has become incredibly expensive. We need a peaceful solution so we can return to work and rebuild our lives." During that war, Eritrean troops supported Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's campaign against the TPLF. But critics warned at the time that peace would remain fragile without Eritrea at the negotiating table. President Isaias Afwerki, who has ruled Eritrea for decades, was notably absent from the talks in the South African's administrative capital, Pretoria. Now, growing fears of renewed violence point towards Eritrea's involvement. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Another destabilizing factor is the political turmoil within Tigray itself. The once-dominant TPLF has fractured after internal power struggles — a vulnerability Eritrea could potentially exploit. Following the split, General Tadesse Werede, former commander of the defeated Tigray Defense Forces (TDF), was appointed head of the Tigray interim government in Mekelle. He has urged caution against misinformation and vowed, "There will be no war and no provocation from Tigray's side." On the other side of the divide is TPLF chairman Debretsion Gebremichael. His faction has been accused of cooperating with Eritrea — a claim it strongly denies. Debretsion has called for a political resolution grounded in the Pretoria agreement: "We urge the international community to pressure the Ethiopian government, its agents, and allies to refrain from preparing for war." Despite these reassurances, fear is spreading among civilians. "People are withdrawing their money from banks and stockpiling essentials like oil and teff [an Ethiopian cereal]," a resident of Mekele told DW. He called on both TPLF factions "to step aside — or to use their influence to work with the central government to resolve the crisis and prevent war." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A full-scale inter-state war may be unlikely, but proxy conflicts are a real possibility, said Gerrit Kurtz, Horn of Africa expert at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), a Berlin-based think tank. "Eritrea benefits when Ethiopia is weakened — when it's internally fragmented and beset by local conflicts," Kurtz told DW. "That's why the internal crises we've seen over the past few years — many of which are supported, or at least exploited, by Eritrea — serve its strategic interests." Observers say Eritrea has trained armed groups inside Ethiopia — including, reportedly, the Fano militia in Amhara region. In March, Fano fighters clashed with Ethiopian federal troops in a two-day battle that, according to Addis Ababa, left more than 300 militia members dead. Eritrea has a long and contentious history with Ethiopia. After colonial rule ended, the country was absorbed into a federation with Ethiopia in 1952, and later forcibly annexed — a move that sparked a decades-long independence struggle. Eritrea finally broke away in 1993, costing Ethiopia its only direct access to the sea. Since then, Eritrea has become one of the world's most repressive and isolated regimes under Isaias Afwerki. In 2010, the United Nations imposed an arms embargo on the country. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video According to a new report by the US-based watchdog group The Sentry, Eritrea has used its involvement in the Tigray conflict to strengthen its position significantly. "We identified two clear patterns," said Charles Cater, lead investigator for The Sentry, in an interview with DW. "First, the systematic looting of Tigray during the war — factories were dismantled and moved across the border. Everything of value was taken to Eritrea." The second pattern, he said, was illicit trade: Eritrea profited from smuggling gold, sesame, cultural artifacts, and even people from Tigray. The resulting foreign currency is believed to have helped fund Eritrea's ongoing operations in Ethiopia. Another pivotal moment came in 2018, when Ethiopia and Eritrea signed a peace agreement, ending years of open hostility. Prime Minister Abiy was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for the breakthrough — but Afwerki was left out, despite the deal helping to lift the UN arms embargo against Eritrea. The Sentry also documented how Eritrea subsequently bought weapons, including from Russia. In response, Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Ghebremeskel dismissed the report as a "fabricated narrative" meant to scapegoat Eritrea. The Eritrean military is reportedly strengthening its positions near the Tigray border and may have advanced up to 10 kilometers (6 miles) into Ethiopian territory, according to The Sentry. Both sides had previously agreed to a new border alignment during the 2018 thaw in relations. The Pretoria Agreement stipulated the withdrawal of all non-federal forces from Tigray — including Eritrean troops. It is now up to the Ethiopian government to find a political solution, both with Eritrea and with the divided TPLF, noted SWP's Gerrit Kurtz. "Abiy's strategy is to keep all domestic rivals weak enough that they can't unite against him. That means sometimes aligning with certain factions, while repressing others. But it's a high-stakes game," Kurtz said. Ethiopia is scheduled to hold national elections next year, and analysts warn that Abiy could use the Tigray crisis as political leverage. Since 2023, he has also revived calls for Ethiopia to secure its own access to the sea — a move that has already fueled diplomatic tensions with Somalia and led some to fear a potential military incursion into Eritrea. For now, Abiy has publicly reiterated his commitment to peace. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
DW
16-07-2025
- Politics
- DW
Fears of war in Tigray: What role does Eritrea play? – DW – 07/16/2025
For months, tensions have been mounting in northern Ethiopia: Two and a half years after a peace deal, Eritrea appears intent on sowing instability. A new report traces how Asmara has quietly rearmed. "We can't plan anything at the moment — we're just trying to survive. A new war could break out tomorrow," said a woman in Mekele, the capital of Ethiopia's Tigray region. Speaking to DW, she describes a climate of fear that's gripped many residents. "Life has become incredibly expensive. We need a peaceful solution so we can return to work and rebuild our lives." Reports of troop movements and sporadic clashes have emerged in recent months, feeding concern that the fragile calm could soon collapse. The region is still reeling from the brutal two-year civil war between the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and federal government forces — a conflict that claimed an estimated 600,000 lives before it ended with the Pretoria peace agreement in November 2022. During that war, Eritrean troops supported Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's campaign against the TPLF. But critics warned at the time that peace would remain fragile without Eritrea at the negotiating table. President Isaias Afwerki, who has ruled Eritrea for decades, was notably absent from the talks in the South African's administrative capital, Pretoria. Now, growing fears of renewed violence point towards Eritrea's involvement. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Another destabilizing factor is the political turmoil within Tigray itself. The once-dominant TPLF has fractured after internal power struggles — a vulnerability Eritrea could potentially exploit. Following the split, General Tadesse Werede, former commander of the defeated Tigray Defense Forces (TDF), was appointed head of the Tigray interim government in Mekelle. He has urged caution against misinformation and vowed, "There will be no war and no provocation from Tigray's side." On the other side of the divide is TPLF chairman Debretsion Gebremichael. His faction has been accused of cooperating with Eritrea — a claim it strongly denies. Debretsion has called for a political resolution grounded in the Pretoria agreement: "We urge the international community to pressure the Ethiopian government, its agents, and allies to refrain from preparing for war." Despite these reassurances, fear is spreading among civilians. "People are withdrawing their money from banks and stockpiling essentials like oil and teff [an Ethiopian cereal]," a resident of Mekele told DW. He called on both TPLF factions "to step aside — or to use their influence to work with the central government to resolve the crisis and prevent war." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A full-scale inter-state war may be unlikely, but proxy conflicts are a real possibility, said Gerrit Kurtz, Horn of Africa expert at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), a Berlin-based think tank. "Eritrea benefits when Ethiopia is weakened — when it's internally fragmented and beset by local conflicts," Kurtz told DW. "That's why the internal crises we've seen over the past few years — many of which are supported, or at least exploited, by Eritrea — serve its strategic interests." Observers say Eritrea has trained armed groups inside Ethiopia — including, reportedly, the Fano militia in Amhara region. In March, Fano fighters clashed with Ethiopian federal troops in a two-day battle that, according to Addis Ababa, left more than 300 militia members dead. Eritrea has a long and contentious history with Ethiopia. After colonial rule ended, the country was absorbed into a federation with Ethiopia in 1952, and later forcibly annexed — a move that sparked a decades-long independence struggle. Eritrea finally broke away in 1993, costing Ethiopia its only direct access to the sea. Since then, Eritrea has become one of the world's most repressive and isolated regimes under Isaias Afwerki. In 2010, the United Nations imposed an arms embargo on the country. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video According to a new report by the US-based watchdog group The Sentry, Eritrea has used its involvement in the Tigray conflict to strengthen its position significantly. "We identified two clear patterns," said Charles Cater, lead investigator for The Sentry, in an interview with DW. "First, the systematic looting of Tigray during the war — factories were dismantled and moved across the border. Everything of value was taken to Eritrea." The second pattern, he said, was illicit trade: Eritrea profited from smuggling gold, sesame, cultural artifacts, and even people from Tigray. The resulting foreign currency is believed to have helped fund Eritrea's ongoing operations in Ethiopia. Another pivotal moment came in 2018, when Ethiopia and Eritrea signed a peace agreement, ending years of open hostility. Prime Minister Abiy was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for the breakthrough — but Afwerki was left out, despite the deal helping to lift the UN arms embargo against Eritrea. The Sentry also documented how Eritrea subsequently bought weapons, including from Russia. In response, Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Ghebremeskel dismissed the report as a "fabricated narrative" meant to scapegoat Eritrea. The Eritrean military is reportedly strengthening its positions near the Tigray border and may have advanced up to 10 kilometers (6 miles) into Ethiopian territory, according to The Sentry. Both sides had previously agreed to a new border alignment during the 2018 thaw in relations. The Pretoria Agreement stipulated the withdrawal of all non-federal forces from Tigray — including Eritrean troops. It is now up to the Ethiopian government to find a political solution, both with Eritrea and with the divided TPLF, noted SWP's Gerrit Kurtz. "Abiy's strategy is to keep all domestic rivals weak enough that they can't unite against him. That means sometimes aligning with certain factions, while repressing others. But it's a high-stakes game," Kurtz said. Ethiopia is scheduled to hold national elections next year, and analysts warn that Abiy could use the Tigray crisis as political leverage. Since 2023, he has also revived calls for Ethiopia to secure its own access to the sea — a move that has already fueled diplomatic tensions with Somalia and led some to fear a potential military incursion into Eritrea. For now, Abiy has publicly reiterated his commitment to peace. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Daily News Egypt
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily News Egypt
TPLF Rejects Abiy's War Claims, Invites AU to Verify Peace Stance
The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has issued a firm denial in response to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's recent warning about a potential new conflict in northern Ethiopia, insisting that the group has neither interest in nor preparation for war. In a statement released on Saturday, the TPLF dismissed allegations made by the Prime Minister during his address to parliament earlier this week, in which he warned that another war could be 'more devastating than the last' and called on religious leaders and diplomats to intervene preemptively. Abiy had hinted that certain foreign actors may be emboldening TPLF ambitions, alluding to what he described as assumptions that 'some countries would support us if war broke out.' The federal government has repeatedly accused Eritrea of backing the TPLF to destabilize northern Ethiopia — a charge that has gained new attention following unconfirmed reports of coordination between TPLF forces and the Eritrean military, especially in the disputed Zalambessa border area. The TPLF, however, has rejected these allegations and invited mediators from the African Union as well as international observers to visit Tigray and 'see the reality on the ground.' According to DW Amharic, the group stated that religious leaders, academics, and business figures could all verify that Tigray remains committed to peace. Despite these assurances, concerns persist over TPLF movements in the contested Wolkait region, where local sources report that Tigrayan forces have mobilized from three directions in an apparent attempt to regain control of the territory. Wolkait was originally part of the Gondar province but was absorbed into the Tigray region in 1991 under TPLF rule. It reverted to Amhara control following the 2020–2022 war, which began when TPLF forces allegedly attacked the federal Northern Command in Tigray. The TPLF maintains that its claim to Wolkait is grounded in the Pretoria Agreement signed in November 2022, citing provisions that call for the 'constitutional resolution of contested areas.' Yet, the group's continued military presence — reportedly exceeding 200,000 armed personnel — has drawn criticism for undermining commitments to disarm. Adding to the complexity, a breakaway faction from the TPLF's military wing has emerged under the name 'Tigray Peace Force' (TPF). This group, reportedly training in Ethiopia's Afar region, is said to oppose both the TPLF leadership and its alleged alignment with Eritrea. Although independent verification remains limited, credible reports suggest TPF units have already crossed into Tigray, raising fears of internal fragmentation within the region's armed forces. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission has not issued any formal comment on the developments, but observers warn that continued militarization of disputed zones may jeopardize the fragile peace built since 2022. The TPLF's statement closes with a renewed call for dialogue and constitutional mechanisms to resolve territorial disputes — but tensions on the ground suggest that political assurances alone may not be enough to prevent renewed violence.
Int'l Business Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Tanzania Opposition Leader Defiant As He Appears For Treason Trial
Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu appeared in court on Monday for his latest hearing in a treason trial in which he faces a potential death penalty. Activists say the case against him is the latest sign that democracy is under threat in several East African nations. An opposition leader is also on trial for treason in neighbouring Uganda and opposition movements facing pressure in several other countries. In Tanzania, a defiant Lissu was greeted by supporters when he entered the courtroom on Monday. Lissu's Chadema party has been disqualified from presidential and legislative elections due in October after demanding electoral reforms. He had insisted on attending in person after being forced to appear by video link for earlier hearings. "We will be fine... Don't worry at all," he told supporters. A group of Kenyan rights defenders, including a former chief justice, were detained at the airport in Dar es Salaam when they attempted to come and observe the trial. That followed the similar detention and deportation of Kenyan presidential candidate Martha Karua, a former justice minister, at the same airport on Sunday. Karua said it showed Tanzania's ruling party was "determined to violate the law and are not keen on according Tundu Lissu a fair trial". Opposition movements face pressure across the region. Karua also serves as lawyer for Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who was kidnapped in Kenya last year and taken back to his home country for trial. Uganda is due to hold elections in January. There is also concern about the political situation in Kenya, long considered a bastion of stability in the region. President William Ruto's popularity has been undermined by tax rises and corruption that sparked mass protests last year and were followed by a spate of abductions and political violence targeting his critics. When Ruto's former deputy launched a new political party in Nairobi last week, unidentified attackers stormed the meeting. Kenya is in "total disarray", Karua told AFP in an interview earlier this month. "It's as if our constitution has been suspended. We have abductions, arbitrary arrests... extrajudicial killings... And the police and authorities fail to take responsibility," she said. Karua said Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda were "collaborating" in their "total erosion of democratic principles". "All these countries now have become dangerous, not just to others but to their own nationals. I tie this to the forthcoming elections," she said. Meanwhile, Ethiopia's leading opposition party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front, was banned from any political activity last week, ahead of elections due by June 2026 at the latest. South Sudan has repeatedly delayed holding its first elections and President Salva Kiir has placed his long-time rival, First Vice-President Riek Machar, under house arrest. Rwandan President Paul Kagame last year won re-election with more than 99 percent of the vote, amid long-running accusations of repression targeting the opposition.
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
TPLF says Ethiopia ban threatens Tigray peace deal
Ethiopia's main opposition party has called for the African Union to mediate with the federal government after the electoral board revoked its legal status as a Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) said the move to ban it from any political activity was "dangerous" and posed a "serious threat" to the 2022 deal that ended two years of conflict in the northern Tigray party, which Tigray and dominated the entire country for many years, was on Wednesday banned for failing to hold a general decision follows months of political tensions in Tigray and comes ahead of nationwide elections that are due to take place by June next year at the latest. The party led a coalition that staged a 1991 coup and ruled Ethiopia until 2018 when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took power. It fought a brutal two-year civil war against the federal government that ended with a truce signed in November 2022 after tens of thousands of people were killed and millions forced from their homes in northern Ethiopia.'No-one can handle another war' - Tigrayans fear fresh Ethiopian conflictThe party runs Tigray's interim administration which was established in 2023 as part of the peace deal, known as the Pretoria peace agreement. But the party has been unable to conduct internal elections because of a split, with two factions laying claim to control of the National Election Board of Ethiopia, which supervises the conduct of political parties, on Wednesday "resolved to formally deregister" the TPLF on the grounds that it had failed to hold a general the party has protested against the move and called on the African Union to put "pressure" on the federal government to suspend the enforcement of the a letter to the AU, the party said the ban "denies the TPLF a right it had reclaimed through the Pretoria Agreement and poses a serious threat to the foundation of the peace process".It added that the peace deal stipulated that both parties recognise each other's legitimacy and any political issue should be resolved through deputy chairman Ammanuel Assefa told the BBC that the decision by the electoral board could "damage the Pretoria agreement" which "is going to be dangerous". "This isn't just about TPLF, but also about undermining what people have sacrificed," Ammanuel added. Delays in implementing the terms of the agreement, including the return of some one million people displaced by the war, have fuelled fears of fresh violence in Tigray. Several countries including the US, UK and the European Union have warned about the escalating tension, saying there must be "no return to violence". More on Ethiopia's civil war: 'I lost my leg on the way home from school'How war has hurt Ethiopia's Olympic hopesHow a massacre in the sacred city of Aksum unfoldedWhy Ethiopia is so alarmed by an Egypt-Somalia alliance Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
