Ethiopia: Civilians Bear the Brunt as Tigray Conflict Escalates

As armed conflict intensifies across northern Ethiopia, civilians are increasingly caught between federal troops and rebel alliances, with communication blackouts hampering efforts to assess the humanitarian toll. While details remain sparse, eyewitness accounts obtained by DW indicate a rising number of casualties among non-combatants.

In the small town of Selenwuha, a 22-year-old resident reported losing six family members after heavy weaponry struck their home. She noted that survivors, including the injured, are stranded without access to medical care or transport, as the nearest treatment center is located far away.

Strategic Shifts and Alleged Retaliation

Reports confirm that the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) has advanced toward the regional capital, Mekelle, while Tigrayan forces defend key towns such as Mekoni and Maychew. The strategic town of Alamata, located approximately 120 kilometers south of Mekelle, was reportedly captured by government forces on September 27, a claim corroborated by the US-based conflict monitoring group ACLED.

Alamata, a critical hub on a major highway, changed hands multiple times during the 2020-2022 civil war. However, residents accuse federal forces of deliberately targeting the population. One 40-year-old resident alleged that militia members stated the artillery fire was retaliatory. Another resident claimed the attack was timed to coincide with the Saturday market opening, resulting in at least 11 deaths and 15 injuries. The ENDF spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment by press time.

New Alliances and Political Tensions

Large-scale hostilities resumed on September 23, when Tigrayan forces seized airports in Mekelle, Aksum, and Shire. This escalation followed the formation of a new alliance on September 20 by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and six other groups, including the Amhara Fano National Movement, which previously fought alongside federal forces but has now switched sides to oppose Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government.

Both the federal government and Tigrayan commanders have accused each other of instigating the violence, framing their actions as defensive. The renewed fighting follows a deterioration of the 2022 Pretoria Agreement, which ended the previous war but left contentious issues regarding territorial disputes and disarmament unresolved. Tensions were further exacerbated after the TPLF lost its legal status, barring it from the June national elections, and reinstated its pre-war regional council.

Humanitarian Crisis and War Crime Concerns

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported evacuating only around 160 individuals from the region, including police personnel and airline staff. With supply chains disrupted and prices soaring, residents in previously unaffected areas of Tigray are rushing to stockpile essentials like flour.

Legal experts warn of potential violations of international law. Amdegebreal Admassu, an Ethiopian lawyer, reported that hospitals, schools, and religious sites have been hit, either accidentally or deliberately. “Under both international law and our country’s penal code, such actions are classified as war crimes,” he stated.

Observers fear the conflict could destabilize the broader Horn of Africa, especially as Prime Minister Abiy has accused neighboring nations of supporting rebel forces. Recent reports suggest Tigrayan forces have pushed into the Afar region near Erebti, potentially threatening Ethiopia’s primary trade corridors.