Ethiopia-Tigray
Fighting between federal forces and the Tigray Defense Forces (TDF) continues near the Eritrean border. Critical Threats reported that federal forces captured Sheraro, about 60 miles northwest of Shire, on Nov. 3 after roughly three weeks of attempts and may also have taken Adi Awala, while ACLED recorded the army regaining control of Rama after clashes. Federal forces killed Colonel Semere Teklu, a commander of the TDF's Army 92, in the Bizet area on Nov. 2 (accounts differ on the location), and on Nov. 6 imposed a nighttime curfew in Mekele and ordered illegal weapons surrendered. Unverified reports of Ethiopian and Eritrean forces exchanging fire near the border have raised fears of a low-intensity border war. Sudan has complained to the UN Security Council and the African Union that Ethiopia allows RSF drone attacks from its territory, and the two countries have closed each other's consulates.
Background
The Tigray war began in November 2020 when Ethiopia's federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which governed the Tigray region, clashed. Eritrean forces were reported to have been involved, and estimates of the death toll vary widely, running to hundreds of thousands. On November 2, 2022, the African Union-mediated Pretoria agreement ended hostilities, and an interim Tigray administration was installed in March 2023. Implementation has been only partial, and divisions within Tigray and the role of Eritrea are cited as risks to the peace.
Key issues
- Implementation of the Pretoria agreement
- Divisions within the Tigray interim administration
- Eritrea's role and border tensions
- Contested territory and the return of displaced people
Key milestones
| 2018-07 | Ethiopia and Eritrea normalize relations |
|---|---|
| 2020-11 | Tigray war erupts between the federal government and the TPLF |
| 2022-11 | Pretoria peace agreement signed (Nov 2), ending hostilities |
| 2023-03 | Interim Tigray administration installed under the agreement |
Parties
Ethiopian federal government vs TPLF (suspected Eritrean involvement)
Countries involved
Key events in the last 30 days
| 10-20 | War & ConflictEthiopia and Eritrea clash at UN Security Council; Ethiopia claims control of Axum |
|---|---|
| 10-17 | War & ConflictEthiopian army enters Axum and retakes Mekelle airport; Tigray interim administration formed |
| 10-13 | War & ConflictEritrean troops reportedly enter Adigrat area; Ethiopia strikes with drones |
Intensity history
| 2026-09-26 | All-out war |
|---|---|
| 2026-08-15 | High intensity |
| 2026-08-14 | Medium intensity |
Key relations
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Tension🇪🇹 Ethiopia → 🇪🇷 Eritrea
Tigray intervention dispute after rupture; G7 concern
Ethiopia says Eritrean troops have pushed up to 60 km into Tigray, which Eritrea denies. G7 foreign ministers voiced great concern on Nov. 10 over worsening security between the two.
Other issues in these countries
- Geopolitics & Diplomacy🇪🇹 Ethiopia
Federal troops reported entering Sheraro and Rama in northwestern Tigray; G7 voices 'great concern' over Ethiopia-Eritrea tensions