Fears of renewed conflict in Ethiopia

Residents of Alamata, a city straddling Ethiopia's Tigray and Amhara regions, are growing increasingly fearful of renewed conflict. The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) forces took control of the city at the start of the Tigray War, following the withdrawal of Ethiopian federal troops. Alamata residents report an increasing military presence, with TPLF forces deploying troops along the Raya front and being prepared for war.

One resident described the city as "a military city," as soldiers dominate most areas. The regional government in Tigray claimed to have repelled an open military offensive by Ethiopian federal forces, supported by Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, but these claims could not be independently verified. The Ethiopian federal government has not responded to the Tigray government's statement.

However, the federal government's Minister of Irrigation and Lowland Areas blamed the TPLF for initiating clashes in western Tigray. Strategically located along a highway linking Tigray with central Ethiopia, Alamata lies about 15 kilometers north of Kobo in the Amhara region and remains unresolved under the African Union-brokered Pretoria Peace Agreement.

Political divisions within the TPLF have fueled concerns about the peace process's durability. The African Union has repeatedly urged all parties to implement the agreement and resolve disputes through dialogue. Human rights group Amnesty International calls for independent access to conflict-affected areas, emphasizing the need for scrutiny and oversight.

Renewed instability in northern Ethiopia could have severe consequences, including displacement, disrupted trade routes, and hindered peace efforts in the region.