{
  "id": 10261273,
  "title": "Ethiopia army vows restraint as fears of renewed civil war grow",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/ethiopia-army-vows-restraint-as-fears-of-renewed-civil-war-grow",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-27T17:28:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Adom Online",
    "slug": "adom-online",
    "url": "https://www.adomonline.com/ethiopia-army-vows-restraint-as-fears-of-renewed-civil-war-grow/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ethiopia's federal military has remained composed in the face of escalating tensions in the north, as concerns rise of a repeat of civil war. Field Marshal Berhanu Jula, the Army Chief of Staff, stated the military is responding to what he deemed provocations from the Tigray front with \"wisdom and restraint\". He blamed Eritrea for funding and supporting armed groups to undermine Ethiopia, describing the \"Tsimdo\" alliance as a continuation of a long-standing pattern of hostile relationships that cannot prevail without external support. Eritrea, however, denied these allegations, arguing that Ethiopia's landlocked nature makes it vulnerable to invasion by Ethiopia. The conflict has expanded beyond Tigray into neighboring Afar and Amhara regions following the formation of the Ethiopian Peoples' Forces Alliance for Survival, a coalition of seven armed groups committed to overthrowing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. In Afar, the military is attempting to stop rebels from taking control around Abala. In North Wollo, a region in Amhara bordering Tigray, the army reported killing 272 Tigrayan fighters and wounding 260 in a counter-offensive, alleging heavy losses for the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). The TPLF's Tigray Army claimed the federal government had launched a \"full-scale offensive\" using infantry, mechanized units, and drones. TPLF central committee member Addisalem Balema labeled the situation as \"full war\". Battles are also ongoing around Sama, Soqota, and Raya Alamata, with government forces reportedly closing in on Alamata. The military has advocated for a \"strategic calm\" approach rather than a large-scale military confrontation, arguing that the Tigray front's popular support is waning and its leadership is divided. Internet access was reportedly disrupted across northern Ethiopia on Friday, following a UN warning over reports of civilian-targeted drone strikes. This resurgence of fighting has put the 2022 Pretoria Agreement, which ended a brutal two-year civil war in Tigray, under significant strain. It comes weeks after the United States lifted sanctions on Ethiopia and Eritrea, linked to atrocities from the previous conflict, citing the \"national emergency\" as expired. This move marks the most serious challenge yet to the agreement, sparking fears of a broader regional conflict involving armed groups from across Ethiopia. Ethiopia's president addressed the UN General Assembly, portraying his country as a stabilizing force in the region, while accusing unnamed external actors of interfering in Ethiopia's affairs. He also highlighted Addis Ababa's role in supporting peace initiatives in neighboring Sudan. According to Alemayehu Weldemariam, a law professor at Indiana University, the federal government bears much of the responsibility for the breakdown of the Pretoria Agreement. He cited fuel, service, and cash restrictions imposed on Tigray, as well as the government's failure to establish the interim administration promised in the deal. The interim administration was never implemented, leading to Tigray's exclusion from national elections.",
  "summary": "Ethiopia’s federal military has said it is handling rising tensions in the country’s north with restraint, as fears grow that Ethiopia could be heading towards another civil war. In his first comments on the recent military developments, Army Chief of Staff Field Marshal Berhanu Jula said the army was responding to what he called provocations […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Ethiopian army remains composed amid rising tensions in Tigray.",
    "Eritrea accused of funding armed groups to destabilize Ethiopia.",
    "Conflict spreads to Afar and Amhara regions, threatening 2022 peace agreement."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}