Tigray rebels accuse Ethiopia of drone strikes amid fears of renewed war

Lead

Tigray's regional authorities have accused Ethiopia's federal government of carrying out deadly drone strikes in the region, raising fears of a renewed conflict nearly four years after a peace deal ended a devastating two-year war. The accusations come as federal and Tigrayan forces have been massing along their border for months, and fighting has broken out in the western part of the region.

Coverage comparison

Reports of the escalating tensions describe a fragile peace under strain. Africa News reported that Tigray rebel authorities accused Ethiopia's federal government of drone strikes, and that fighting broke out on August 1 between federal forces and TPLF troops. The outlet noted that forces are massing along the border and that unresolved issues from the 2022 peace agreement, including the return of displaced people and the disarmament of TPLF forces, remain incomplete.

Al Jazeera reported that fighting erupted in western Tigray, describing it as one of the most serious threats yet to the three-year-old Pretoria peace deal. The outlet noted that Tigray's regional government accused federal forces of starting the clashes, while a government minister, Abraham Belay, confirmed the clashes but accused TPLF forces of initiating them. Al Jazeera also reported that the US imposed visa restrictions on TPLF 'hardliners' and that the TPLF declared the Pretoria agreement 'effectively dead'. In a separate report, Al Jazeera detailed the involvement of the TPLF, Fano militias, and Eritrea in the conflict, and noted that Ethiopia's federal government accused TPLF and Eritrea of supporting Fano forces.

AllAfrica provided a broader analysis, highlighting two claims to authority in Tigray: Debretsion Gebremichael's mandate based on the 2020 regional election, and Tadesse Worede's appointment by Addis Ababa. The outlet also reported on forced recruitment and mass round-ups in Tigray, and suggested that Eritrea is aligning with the Sudanese army to back a Tigrayan push.

Key claims

• Tigray's regional authorities accused Ethiopia's federal government of carrying out deadly drone strikes.
• Fighting broke out on August 1 between federal forces and TPLF troops in northwestern Tigray.
• Forces are massing along the border between federal and Tigrayan forces.
• The peace deal left several contentious issues unresolved.
• The return of displaced people and the disarmament of TPLF forces remain incomplete.
• The TPLF, Fano militias, and Eritrea are involved in the conflict.
• Ethiopia's federal government accused TPLF and Eritrea of supporting Fano forces.
• Eritrea controls parts of the Irob and Shiraro districts.
• TPLF seized the regional radio station and the mayor's office in Mekele.
• Two men, Debretsion Gebremichael and Tadesse Worede, claim authority in Tigray.
• Forced recruitment and mass round-ups are occurring in Tigray.
• Eritrea is lining up with the Sudanese army to back a Tigrayan push.
• The US imposed visa restrictions on TPLF 'hardliners'.
• TPLF declared the Pretoria agreement 'effectively dead'.

Perspectives

Tigray's regional government: Accuses Ethiopia's federal government of starting the clashes and carrying out drone strikes, and has called on Tigrayan forces and civil society to prepare for what it terms a struggle of national survival.

Ethiopia's federal government: Through Minister Abraham Belay, confirmed the clashes but accused TPLF forces of starting them. The government has also accused the TPLF and Eritrea of supporting Fano forces in a letter to the United Nations.