Armed conflicts in Ethiopia, though reduced significantly in recent months, have been going on for several years. The two-year armed conflict between the government of Ethiopia and its allies and the regional Tigray authority — according to available sources including the BBC — has led to the death of around six million and the displacement of around five million Ethiopians. Summary executions, widespread sexual violence, the pillage of property and a brutal ethnic cleansing campaign by the federal government against Tigray are also frequently claimed by human rights organizations. Even though there is a surprisingly made peace agreement between the conflicting parties, the situation remains tense in the Tigray region and conflicts are going on in several other areas.
It is pertinently notable that the recent conflict started in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region in November 2020 between the government forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) when the government started a swift armed mission against the regional force, whwchih which had earlier attacked on a government military base, but it later spread to Tigray’s neighboring regions of Afar and Amhara in July 2021. Definitely, efforts are being made to end the conflict. The Cessation of Hostilities Agreement made in November 2022, brokered by the African Union, is an important step. It may help to restore peace at least for a short term, given that it is implemented. But without commitment and addressing the underlying causes of conflicts, lasting peace may be difficult.
Definitely, there are several underlying causes of the conflict in Ethiopia — a country in northeast Africa commonly known as the Horn of Africa — including the recalibration of power, exclusion, injustice, political repression, tribal enmity and unequal distribution of national resources. Notably, the recalibration of power, along with several other causes, led the TPLF, once the dominant party in Ethiopia’s ruling coalition, to hold its own election in TIgray defying the central government’s decision. Also, a lack of earnest intention of the conflicting parties, distrust and keeping the Eritrean forces in the Tigray region, among other causes, may put challenges to ending conflicts in a lasting manner. Also, armed conflicts have been continuing in several other regions including Oromia.
It is desired that the conflict is completely resolved and peace is fully restored in Ethiopia, one of the heavily affected countries in Africa by frequent attacks of armed groups and deadly ethnic violence. In this respect, the Pretoria Agreement can help enormously but the underlying causes of the conflict need to be addressed and armed fighting in other areas of Ethiopia needs to be ended, along with the ending of abuses of all kinds. Definitely, conflicting parties need to be earnest in resolving their armed conflicts. Also, further efforts of the African Union and pressure from the United States are imperative to help mitigate disputes among the parties and restore peace.
Amir M Sayem
Chief Editor
Dhaka Opinion Magazine
