Ethiopia: Observers Fear National and Regional Escalation

The renewed clashes in northern Ethiopia could spread beyond Tigray, further destabilizing the Horn of Africa, warns the International Crisis Group. Ethiopian federal forces are fighting the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), but alliances have shifted, with Fano groups from Amhara potentially supporting the TPLF, which raises concerns about coordinated military operations. There is also fear of escalation into other regions such as Oromia, the Somali region, or Benishangul-Gumuz, threatening the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement.