Ethiopia-TPLF clashes (2026–present)
| Ethiopia-TPLF clashes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Ethiopian civil conflict (2018–present) | |||||
.svg) | |||||
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| Belligerents | |||||
 Ethiopia |
 Tigray Region | ||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
| Units involved | |||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||
|
Per Tigray:[1] 1 killed 1 injured | |||||
.svg/40px-Flag_of_the_Ethiopian_National_Defense_Force_(3).svg.png){kind=small}
On January 29, 2026 clashes erupted in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia between the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and Ethiopian government forces.[2]
Background
[edit]In November 2020, the TPLF and TDF launched attacks on Ethiopian Army bases within Tigray region after tensions regarding the parliamentary elections to be held the next year, and over accusations of Ethiopian government corruption. This ultimately culminated into the subsequent Tigray War.[3] By March 2022, the war had come to a virtual standstill[4] and on 2 November 2022, the Pretoria Peace Agreement was signed, ending the Tigray War.[5] Despite the agreement stipulating it, the TPLF/TDF did not demobilise, and still controlled much of Tigray Region. Alongside that, much of Western and Southern Tigray remained occupied by Amhara militias who claim the territory.
In March 2025, tensions intensified again when a faction of the TPLF, led by Debretsion Gebremichael, took over several offices in Mekelle in a coup against the Interim Regional Administration of Tigray. Armed men belonging to the faction patrolled the streets of the city at night, checking people's identification. The Guardian reported that there are some reports suggesting that Eritrean intelligence helped Debretsion's faction assume power. Meanwhile, it reported that Getachew Reda, the interim leader of Tigray, had fled to Addis Ababa.[6]
These tensions only continued in late 2025 when the TPLF accused the Ethiopian government of funding and aiding in multiple anti-TPLF groups—particularly the Tigray Peace Forces (TPF), a splinter group of former TPLF/TDF members—active on Tigray's border with the neighboring Afar Region, which have launched attacks on Tigrayan forces, killing several.[7] Furthermore, in November, the Afar Regional government accused elements of the TPLF of crossing over the Tigray-Afar border and attacking civilians, threatening retaliation if the TPLF did not withdraw. The TPLF denied the allegations, accusing Ethiopian-backed militants of orchestrating the attack.[8][9] The day after, the TPLF accused Ethiopian forces of launching a drone strike on Raya Azebo, killing Tigrayan forces and civilians in violation of the Pretoria ceasefire.[10]
Clashes
[edit]On 29 January, these tensions erupted into clashes between Tigrayan fighters and Federal Forces (aided by Amharan militias) in Mai Degusha, a contested area of Tselemti district in western Tigray. Ethiopian Airlines cancelled its flights from Addis Ababa to cities in Tigray in response.[2][11] Getachew Reda, former Tigrayan interim president deposed in the March 2025 coup, accused "Power-hungry individuals within the TPLF" of "trying to drag Tigray into another round of war."[12]
On 30 January, Tigrayan forces captured the towns of Alamata and Korem in Southern Tigray after Ethiopian forces withdrew, leading to fears that clashes would spread to the region.[13]
On 31 January, a Tigrayan official reported drone strikes that hit two Isuzu trucks near Enticho and Gendebt in Tigray claimed to have been transporting weapons, killing one person and injuring another. The official accuses the Ethiopian Armed Forces of the strikes without providing evidence.[14]
On 1 February, Tigrayan forces withdrew from the Tselemti district after several days of intense clashes. Tadesse Werede described the withdrawal as a demonstration of their readiness for dialogue and a peaceful resolution to the current tensions.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ "Drone strikes in Ethiopia's Tigray kill one amid fears of renewed conflict". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ^ a b "Clashes between government troops and Tigrayan forces erupt in Ethiopia". Al Jazeera. 29 January 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
- ^ Reda, Getachew (23 March 2022). "The World Must Condemn Human Rights Abuses in Tigray as It Does in Ukraine". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
- ^ Paravicini, Giulia (2022-03-30). "New front in Ethiopian war displaces thousands, hits hopes of peace talks". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
- ^ Harter, Fred (3 Nov 2022). "Ethiopia's truce is a step toward ending civil war, but there are reasons for caution". National Public Radio.
- ^ Harter, Fred (2025-03-21). "Power struggle leads to coup in Tigray as war looms between Ethiopia and Eritrea". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-03-21.
- ^ "News: Tigray Interim Administration reiterates appeal to armed groups in Afar "to return home and commit to dialogue"". Addis Standard. 2 October 2025.
- ^ "Afar regional gov't accuses Tigrayan forces of 'crossing border and attacking civilians in violation of Pretoria Agreement'". Addis Standard. 5 November 2025.
- ^ "Tigray Interim Admn denies crossing into Afar, faults federal gov't for undermining Pretoria Agreement". Addis Standard. 7 November 2025.
- ^ "TPLF accuses Ethiopian gov't of Drone Strike, says attack caused casualties among Tigray forces and civilians". Addis Standard. 7 November 2025.
- ^ Teferi, Michael (29 January 2026). "Ethiopian Airlines cancels flights to Tigray as fears mount of renewed conflict". BBC. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
- ^ "Diplomatic sources said there was a clash between the defense forces and Tigray forces". BBC (in Amharic). 29 January 2026.
- ^ "What happened in Almata and Korum?". BBC (in Amharic). 30 January 2026.
- ^ "Drone strikes in Ethiopia's Tigray kill one amid fears of renewed conflict". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ^ "News: Interim President says dialogue under Pretoria Agreement remains possible as Tigray forces withdraw from Tselemti". Addis Standard. 1 February 2026.