Is a Tigray Region-Eritrea Alliance in the Cards?

 Ethiopia Insight published on 20 August 2025 a commentary titled "Strategic Reversals: Abiy's Miscalculation and the Tigray-Eritrea Realignment" by Yonas Nigussie, political economist.

The author argues that Tigray Region, sidelined by the collapse of the Pretoria Agreement, is fighting for survival.  Eritrea, haunted by fears of Ethiopian expansionism, seeks a strategic buffer.  Internal power struggles have fractured the Tigray People's Liberation Front.  One Tigrayan faction has signaled its willingness to align with Eritrea in an unholy alliance against the federal government of Ethiopia.  This could spark another bloody civil war.

Ethiopia: Humanitarian Supplies Still Not Entering Tigray Region

 The Guardian published on 10 November 2022 an article titled "Tigray Still Without Aid Eight Days after Deal to End Ethiopia's Blockade" by Jason Burke.  

The government of Ethiopia said it is working on its commitment to deliver humanitarian assistance and services to Tigray Region.  Tigrayans are concerned, however, that its commitment may be linked to progress on disarmament by the TPLF, even though the issues were not linked in the peace deal.   

Washington Post Editorial Calls for International Pressure on Both Sides in Ethiopian Conflict

 The Washington Post published on 25 October 2022 an editorial titled "One of the World's Deadliest Conflicts Is Reaching a Tipping Point."

The civil war in Ethiopia has been marked from the outset by brutality and disregard for civilian life.  According to a Ghent University team estimate, between 385,000 and 600,000 lives have been lost.  World leaders should immediately push both sides to negotiate in good faith at the African Union-led peace talks.

Chairman of US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Calls for End of Ethiopian Conflict

 The Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Bob Menendez, issued a statement on 15 October 2022 on the conflict in northern Ethiopia.

The Chairman called on Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed "to order his Eritrean mercenaries out of Ethiopia and lift his cruel blockade of Tigray."  He also urged the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front to commit to renewed peace talks without preconditions. 

Russian Foreign Minister Ends Africa Tour in Ethiopia

 The Voice of America published on 28 July 2022 an article titled "Lavrov Lashes Out at West on Africa Tour" by Fred Harter.  

As Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov tried to shift blame for Africa's grain shortages to Western sanctions because of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, the US announced a $488 million drought relief package for Ethiopia.  

Russian Campaign in Africa to Shift Blame for Grain Shortages

 The New York Times published on 24 July 2022 an article titled "Russia Tells Famine-Fearing Africa It's Not to Blame for Food Shortages" by Vivian Lee, Anton Troianovski, and Abdi Latif Dahir.  

Russia is on a campaign in Africa to convince leaders that it is not responsible for grain shortages on the continent and expressed Moscow's appreciation that they have not joined Western sanctions against Russia.  The overwhelming instinct of African leaders is to remain non-aligned and stay out of the confrontation between Russia and the West.  

Russia Seeks to Justify Invasion of Ukraine in Africa

 The Associated Press published on 24 July 2022 an article titled "Russia's FM Visits Egypt, Part of African Trip Amid Ukraine War" by Samy Magdy.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is visiting Egypt, Ethiopia, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in an effort to justify Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.  

Russia's Disinformation War Aimed at Africa

 The Atlantic published on 21 July 2022 an article titled "Russia's Hunger War" by David Patrikarakos.

Russia is directing its disinformation war at Africa where anti-Western sentiment is already strong.  Anticipating a world food crisis, Moscow is propagating the message that Western sanctions against Russia are to blame for causing food shortages and Ukraine is deliberately destroying grain supplies.  

Russia's Wagner Group Helps Blockade Libyan Oil

 Foreign Policy published on 8 July 2022 an article titled "Libya Could Be Putin's Trump Card" by Robert Uniacke.

Russia's mercenary Wagner Group is entrenched in Libya as guns for hire for Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army.  Some 2,000 Wagner Group mercenaries support Haftar's effort to control oil-rich eastern Libya.  The country claims to have 39 percent of Africa's total oil reserves.  Haftar has imposed a blockade on oil exports, which helps keep prices high to the delight of Moscow.    

Invasion of Ukraine Impacting Food Situation in Africa

 The Indian Express published on 2 July 2022 an article titled "Food Crisis Starts to Bite Africa Amid Russia-Ukraine War" by Asshi Sadana.

The author concludes that the Horn of Africa faces the most immediate threat because blocked shipments of grain coincide with a record-setting fourth year of drought.

Ukraine Wants to Export Grain to Africa

 The Voice of America posted on 24 June 2022 an article titled "Ukraine Appeals for African Support on War with Russia and Food Crisis" by Mohammed Yusuf.

Ukraine is ready to ship its grain to Africa as soon as Russia lifts its blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports and allows the grain to be shipped.

Is Russia Really Taking Steps to Allow Grain Exports to Africa?

 South Africa's Institute for Security Studies published on 10 June 2022 a commentary titled "Africa Must Separate the Wheat from Russia's Geopolitical Chaff" by Peter Fabricius.

Vladimir Putin's meeting with the chairperson of the African Union and the head of the African Union Commission on the Africa food crisis ended without clarity on the next steps Russia will take to free up the export of Ukrainian and Russian grain.

Drought and the War in Ukraine Conspire against Somalia and Parts of Ethiopia and Kenya

 The New York Times published on 11 June 2022 an article titled "'We Burned Him and Kept Walking': Children Die as Somalis Flee Hunger" by Abdi Latif Dahir and dramatic photography by Malin Fezehai.

Somalia is facing the worst drought in four decades and a sharp rise in food prices caused by the war in Ukraine.  About half the country's population faces acute food shortages.  Up to 20 million people in Somalia and neighboring parts of Kenya and Ethiopia face the risk of starvation by the end of the year.  

Putin's War Damages South African Economy

 Pass Blue published on 6 June 2022 an article titled "9,000 Miles Away, South Africa's Economy Feels the Pain of Russia's War in Ukraine" by Nyasha Bhobo. 

Russia's invasion of Ukraine and blockade of its Black Sea ports has driven up food and fertilizer prices in South Africa, resulting in concerns about possible food riots.  South Africa's "neutral" position on the war has resulted in a sharp policy difference between the ruling African National Congress and the opposition Democratic Alliance.  

Will Russia Sell Stolen Ukrainian Wheat to Africa?

 The New York Times published on 5 June 2022 an article titled "Russia Seeks Buyers for Plundered Ukraine Grain, U.S. Warns" by Declan Walsh and Valerie Hopkins.  

The US has warned 14 countries, mostly in Africa, that the Kremlin is trying to sell grain that it has stolen from storage facilities in those parts of Ukraine that it has invaded.  

African Union Head to Urge Russia to Release Ukrainian Grain

 The New York Times published on 2 June 2022 an article titled "African Union Head Has Plea for Putin: Release Ukraine's Grain" by Elian Peltier.  

Russia and Ukraine account for more than 40 percent of Africa's wheat imports.  African Union chairman and President of Senegal, Macky Sall, during his upcoming visit to Russia reportedly will urge Vladimir Putin to release the grain that cannot leave Ukraine due to Russia's blockade of Black Sea ports.  

African Union Warns of Food Crisis Due to War in Ukraine

 The Guardian published on 31 May 2022 an article titled "Africa Warns of Food Crisis Due to Russian Blockade of Ukraine's Ports" by Jennifer Rankin. 

Before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, African countries imported 44 percent of their wheat from Ukraine and Russia.  The war has resulted in both food shortages and price rises in Africa.   

Blockade of Black Sea Ports Adds to African Hunger Crisis

 The Associated Press published on 30 May 2022 an article titled "War in Ukraine Adds to Food Price Hikes, Hunger in Africa."

Persistent drought in the Horn of Africa, COVID-19, internal conflict, climate change, and Russia's blockade of Black Sea ports that disrupts grain exports are causing 13 million people in the Horn of Africa to face severe hunger.  Another 18 million people in the Sahel region face a similar challenge.  

Russia's Blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea Ports Exacerbates Famine in Horn of Africa

 The Telegraph published on 21 May 2022 an article titled "'We Can No Longer Afford to Eat': Ukraine War Pushes Millions into Starvation" by Sarah Newey.  

Russia's blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports has pushed food prices to record highs in the Horn of Africa, which is contributing to growing cases of starvation.  

Putin's Global Famine

 The Washington Post posted on 22 May 2022 an editorial titled "Putin Is Starving Millions of People Around the World."

Ukraine normally provides a significant amount of grain exported to the global south.  All of it goes by ship from Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea to the rest of the world.  Putin is preventing any ships from entering or leaving Ukraine, thus contributing to global grain shortages that have an especially detrimental impact on African countries.