Resumption of Hostilities
The Ethiopian federal army and Tigrayan forces have resumed their war, having failed to turn the November 2022 peace deal into a lasting political settlement, according to an analysis published by The Conversation. In August 2026, fighting broke out again in western Tigray between Tigrayan and Ethiopian federal forces. There have been drone strikes and attacks on civilians in southern Tigray, Mekelle and other areas, the article reported. These incidents follow clashes earlier in 2026.
The analysis, written by a researcher who says they have studied the war since its start, describes the recent confrontations as a sign that the ceasefire and peace process have seriously derailed.
Background: The 2020-2022 War
The Tigray war of 2020-2022 was one of the deadliest conflicts of the 21st century, according to The Conversation. The article states that the war was driven by ethnic hatred, which the Ethiopian government and allies fomented and used to mobilise violence against Tigrayans. The conflict caused enormous loss of life, mass displacement and widespread destruction, and drew in Ethiopian federal forces, Tigrayan forces, Eritrean troops and other armed groups.
Fighting ended when the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front signed the Pretoria ceasefire deal in South Africa. The African Union brokered the peace agreement, which the US and EU supported, according to the article. The agreement provided for the protection of civilians and disarmament of Tigrayan forces.
Unresolved Issues
The Conversation notes that many of the political and territorial disputes that fuelled the war were left unresolved. Large numbers of people remain displaced, and territories occupied by Amhara and Eritrean forces during the war have yet to return to Tigrayan administration. Accountability for wartime abuses has been limited, and the parties involved do not trust each other.
The article also states that the Ethiopian government has dismantled previous transitional justice initiatives.
Alarming Reports and Responsibilities
Reports of forced recruitment of young boys and girls by both the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan authorities are alarming, according to The Conversation. The article also asserts that the African Union and its peace envoys bear part of the responsibility for the ceasefire's derailment.
Despite the setbacks, the author maintains that the Pretoria agreement remains the best available framework, as it brought large-scale fighting to an end and contains commitments that address key unresolved issues, including the return of displaced people and justice processes.