Fighting has spread from Tigray into Afar and Amhara, putting Ethiopia’s 2022 Pretoria Agreement under severe strain. Army chief Berhanu Jula says troops are responding with “wisdom and restraint”; the TPLF’s Tigray Army calls it a “full-scale” federal offensive.
Recent battles in Afar have centered on Abala, where the military is trying to prevent rebels from taking control; fighting has also been reported around Sama, Soqota and Raya Alamata, with government forces reportedly closing in on Alamata. The army said its counter-offensive in North Wollo killed 272 Tigrayan fighters and wounded 260. The TPLF’s Tigray Army said the federal offensive involved infantry, mechanised units and drones. Internet access was reportedly cut across northern Ethiopia on Friday, a day after the UN said it was alarmed by reports of drones being used against civilians.
Seven armed groups announced the Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival, which is committed to removing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government. Army chief Berhanu Jula accused Eritrea of funding and supporting armed groups; Eritrea denied the charge and is wary that Ethiopia may seek to invade it for Red Sea access. A law professor told Al Jazeera the federal government bears much of the blame for the 2022 deal’s breakdown, citing fuel, service and cash restrictions on Tigray and the failure to establish a promised interim administration.
