Ethiopia’s federal government has declared an “unexpected war” on its northern Tigray state, threatening the stability of one of the world’s most strategic regions, the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year for sweeping political reforms, faces the sharpest consequences yet of the country’s recent shifts in power. Two things occurred early Wednesday morning: Communications were cut in Ethiopia’s heavily armed northern Tigray region, and Abiy announced he had ordered troops to respond to an alleged deadly attack by Tigray’s forces on a military base there. Both sides have accused each other of initiating the fighting. And both stepped up the pressure late on Thursday.
Thousands of Ethiopians have escaped across the border to Sudan from fighting in the restive Tigray region, with the exodus likely to swell fast. Hundreds have died in air strikes and fighting amid fears that Ethiopia could slide into civil war given deep animosity between the Tigrayans and Abiy, who comes from the largest Oromo ethnic group.
To assist us on this we are joined by:
• Edwin Ikhouria is ONE in Africa Executive Director
• Andualem Sisay Gessesse is a journalist based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
• Colleta Wanjohi is Channel Africa correspondent
