Ethiopia’s Tigray War: New Tensions Rise

Sun Sep 27 2026 03:42:44 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Fresh clashes in Tigray spark panic buying, drone attacks and a new alliance. Why are tensions boiling again?

Tensions have flared in northern Ethiopia’s Tigray region as the national army and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front clash. The 2022 peace deal left key disputes unresolved, driving the conflict back to its roots. A new alliance of armed groups now backs the TPLF, while the government blames the insurgency and accuses Eritrea of support. Drone strikes, disrupted digital services and forced recruitment add to fears that the war could spread, with international bodies urging a ceasefire.

Ethiopia’s Tigray War: New Tensions Rise

Fighting has erupted in northern Ethiopia’s Tigray region as the national army clashes with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

Tigray’s residents, still recovering from a two‑year war that ended in 2022, are panicking as soldiers patrol the streets of Mekelle and some neighbours see the threat of another full‑scale conflict.

The peace deal brokered by the African Union in 2022 left disputes over western Tigray’s borders, weapons and governance unresolved, driving tensions back to a boiling point.

In a twist, the TPLF has joined a new alliance with other armed groups like Amhara’s Fano militia and the Oromo Liberation Army to challenge Prime Minister Abiy’s government.

The government blames the TPLF for the fighting and calls the alliance “a destabilising force” while accusing Eritrea of supporting insurgents.

Drone strikes, apparent forced recruitment and disrupted digital services add to the chaos, raising fears that the fighting could spread to other parts of Ethiopia.

International bodies, including the AU and UN, urge an immediate ceasefire and direct talks, but trust between the sides remains low.