Abiy Ahmed, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, announced on Friday the formation of a transitional government in the northern Tigray region and gave this government six months to prepare for regional elections and establish stability in the area.
Announcement of New Status
Abiy Ahmed's announcement came after a military attack that began in September by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and six other armed groups. These groups were ultimately forced to retreat and lost control of the region.
Abiy Ahmed stated, "To achieve the peace that has long eluded them and to realize their right to autonomy and benefit from the fruits of development that they have been deprived of for years, the people of Tigray must be freed from this cycle of conflict."
Possible Progress
Shishay Amare, the new mayor of the regional center Mekelle, said: "Our role is to create the right conditions for holding elections while ensuring peace and stability throughout Tigray." He added that their priorities include restoring peace, assisting displaced residents to return home, reopening markets, and ensuring humanitarian aid reaches those in need.
This conflict has revived concerns about a return to the devastating Tigray war of 2020-2022. According to estimates from the African Union, this war resulted in the deaths of approximately 600,000 people due to fighting, famine, and the collapse of the healthcare system.
The new government faces unresolved disputes over political authority and territory, including Western Tigray, which both the Tigray and neighboring Amhara regions claim.
Ethiopia and Eritrea, once fierce enemies, signed a peace agreement in 2018. However, relations between the two countries have soured since the Tigray war. Addis Ababa has accused Eritrea of supporting Tigrayan forces and violating Ethiopian sovereignty, which Eritrea denies.
Reports of Eritrean forces moving near the border have raised concerns, although the extent of any current deployment remains disputed.
Conflicts in the Horn of Africa and tensions between Ethiopia and Egypt over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project are also escalating. The United States and the United Kingdom have urged Ethiopia and Eritrea to exercise restraint and return to dialogue.
