After weeks of flat calm, the situation in Tigray is heating up again, but there is also good news. In the north of the region new clashes between TPLF and Eritrean forces are reigniting the hearth of conflict in Tigray. In the west Abiy Ahmed visits Amhara troops occupying the area attributing it to the Amhara instead of the Tigrayans. In the east, USAID reports that more than 90 trucks with essential foodstuffs arrived in Mekelle on May 14.
Let’s go in order. First, a BBC report said that in northern Tigray there were heavy clashes and shelling between Tigrinya and Eritrean forces. On the night of May 7, the clashes continued until the Tigrinya forces withdrew, however the British broadcaster’s source states, “This shows the aggressiveness of the TPLF.” The site of the clashes is Badme, a town infamous for the 1998-2000 border conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia, which marked the twilight in relations between the TPLF and Isaias Afewerki. However, Getachew Reda, spokesman for the TPLF, strongly denied the news. He states that no clashes have occurred, however, reiterating that Tigrinya forces are well aware of the possible return to belligerence while at the same time accusing Amhara forces, as well as Eritrean forces, of fomenting the clash. The TPLF spokesman then continues in an ominous tone warning both the accused and their allies that “things have changed, and they have changed forever!”
The move that is also attributed by other sources to the Amhara and Eritrean forces is an attempt to force an escalation of the conflict. However, Abiy Ahmed, still seems to be wavering and giving room for dialogue. At first impression it seemed that the attack was the beginning of a large-scale offensive by Tigrayan forces, both in the north and west, to break the encirclement and begin the recapture of western Tigray, however as much as this is a possibility to be considered it seems that the truce still holds.
In any case, in the west of Tigray, Abiy Ahmed just to appease his allies in Amhara state visited the troops to “check the military readiness of the Amhara region’s Western Command.” News that, at first glance, should not cause a stir given that both regular troops of the regional army and militias have been involved in the conflict in Tigray since the beginning of hostilities. However, the Ethiopian prime minister visited not the west of the Amhara region but that of Tigray, which the Amhara forces have occupied since November 2020, thus fomenting rumors that annexation of the fertile and productive territory by the Amhara is now an established reality.
Finally, Samantha Power, who heads the U.S. humanitarian aid agency, let it be known instead that 90 trucks arrived in Tigray this Friday and that about 200 trucks with foodstuffs managed to reach the region this week. Power then renews USAID’s commitment to provide all necessary aid. However numerous are the controversies: will the trucks return this time or remain in Tigray, serving for military purposes? Is the TPLF directing most of the aid to the population or its own military? Will more trucks come through the blockade in the coming days?
To sum up, the conflict has not resumed but Eritrean and Amhara forces are trying to force Abiy Ahmed’s hand as the TPLF tries to stick to the truce and more aid finally arrives in Tigray. The tug-of-war in the north of the country does not seem to be easing.
After weeks of flat calm, the situation in Tigray is heating up again, but there is also good news. In the north of the region new clashes between TPLF and Eritrean forces are reigniting the hearth of conflict in Tigray. In the west Abiy Ahmed visits Amhara troops occupying the area attributing it to the Amhara instead of the Tigrayans. In the east, USAID reports that more than 90 trucks with essential foodstuffs arrived in Mekelle on May 14.
Let’s go in order. First, a BBC report said that in northern Tigray there were heavy clashes and shelling between Tigrinya and Eritrean forces. On the night of May 7, the clashes continued until the Tigrinya forces withdrew, however the British broadcaster’s source states, “This shows the aggressiveness of the TPLF.” The site of the clashes is Badme, a town infamous for the 1998-2000 border conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia, which marked the twilight in relations between the TPLF and Isaias Afewerki. However, Getachew Reda, spokesman for the TPLF, strongly denied the news. He states that no clashes have occurred, however, reiterating that Tigrinya forces are well aware of the possible return to belligerence while at the same time accusing Amhara forces, as well as Eritrean forces, of fomenting the clash. The TPLF spokesman then continues in an ominous tone warning both the accused and their allies that “things have changed, and they have changed forever!”
The move that is also attributed by other sources to the Amhara and Eritrean forces is an attempt to force an escalation of the conflict. However, Abiy Ahmed, still seems to be wavering and giving room for dialogue. At first impression it seemed that the attack was the beginning of a large-scale offensive by Tigrayan forces, both in the north and west, to break the encirclement and begin the recapture of western Tigray, however as much as this is a possibility to be considered it seems that the truce still holds.
In any case, in the west of Tigray, Abiy Ahmed just to appease his allies in Amhara state visited the troops to “check the military readiness of the Amhara region’s Western Command.” News that, at first glance, should not cause a stir given that both regular troops of the regional army and militias have been involved in the conflict in Tigray since the beginning of hostilities. However, the Ethiopian prime minister visited not the west of the Amhara region but that of Tigray, which the Amhara forces have occupied since November 2020, thus fomenting rumors that annexation of the fertile and productive territory by the Amhara is now an established reality.
Finally, Samantha Power, who heads the U.S. humanitarian aid agency, let it be known instead that 90 trucks arrived in Tigray this Friday and that about 200 trucks with foodstuffs managed to reach the region this week. Power then renews USAID’s commitment to provide all necessary aid. However numerous are the controversies: will the trucks return this time or remain in Tigray, serving for military purposes? Is the TPLF directing most of the aid to the population or its own military? Will more trucks come through the blockade in the coming days?
To sum up, the conflict has not resumed but Eritrean and Amhara forces are trying to force Abiy Ahmed’s hand as the TPLF tries to stick to the truce and more aid finally arrives in Tigray. The tug-of-war in the north of the country does not seem to be easing.
