Tigrayan Female Soldiers Experienced Sexual Abuse from Their Own Commanders

 The New Humanitarian published on 16 July 2026 an article titled "As War Fears Grow in Ethiopia, Women Soldiers Recount the Sexual Violence They Experienced" by Mehret Okubay Berehe and Hilary Matfess.

During the 2020-2022 conflict in Tigray, females suffered sexual violence by Ethiopian federal government forces, Eritrean Defense Forces, and Amhara militia.  This article, however, focuses on sexual abuse of female Tigrayan soldiers at the hands of commanders and officers in the Tigray Defense Force, the organization where they served.  

Ethiopia: Tigray Since the Pretoria Agreement

The Rift Valley Institute published in March 2026 a study titled "Peace and Instability: Tigray since the Pretoria Agreement."

The analysis examines the post-2022 period in Tigray following the Pretoria Agreement, which halted large-scale fighting but left key drivers of conflict unresolved.  It highlights how territorial disputes, political exclusion, and stalled processes have created a fragile peace, with the risk of renewed large-scale conflict remaining.  

The Case for Genocide in Ethiopia's War in Tigray

 

Tghat, a Tigrayan media platform devoted to the war in Tigray, published on 18 February 2026 a commentary titled "Why Eritrea Committed Genocide in Tigray" by Desta Haileselassie Hagos, Howard University.  

The author argues that the 2020-2022 war in Ethiopia's Tigray Region was an effort by the federal government of Ethiopia and the government of Eritrea to destroy Tigray and eradicate its people.  

This is a much longer account of the arguments made by the author published by Ethiopia Insight and reposted below on 17 February.  

Is Ethiopia Preparing for War?

 AEI's Critical Threats Africa File published on 25 February 2026 an analysis titled "Ethiopia Prepares for War: Africa File Special Edition" by Michael DeAngelo, Liam Karr, and Anahita Asudani.

The analysis concludes that the Ethiopian federal government will likely launch an offensive against the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) within the next month to neutralize the TPLF and its role in an emerging, loose anti-Ethiopian federal government coalition consisting of Eritrea, the TPLF, and other Amhara and Oromo ethnic nationalist groups.  

Ethiopia and Eritrea Play Cat and Mouse Along Border

 Ethiopia's Institute of Foreign Affairs published on 11 February 2026 an article titled "Ethiopia's Diplomacy, Eritrea's Escalation, and the Future of the Horn of Africa" by Bemnet Alemayehu.  

Ethiopia's minister of foreign affairs sent a letter on 7 February to his counterpart in Eritrea expressing serious concern over Eritrea's military penetration deeper into Ethiopia's northeastern border areas.  Ethiopia charged the troops violate the country's territorial integrity and demanded their immediate withdrawal. At the same time, Ethiopia called for diplomatic engagement to avoid reciprocal military escalation.

Ethiopia Insight published on 23 February 2026 a commentary titled "Ethiopia's Ambiguous Letter Said More Than It Stated" by Dahilon Yassin Mohamoda. 

The author raises interesting questions about the substance and form of the letter.   

A facsimile of the 7 February letter between the two foreign ministers has been posted online.  Read it and decide for yourself what kind of message Ethiopia is sending to Eritrea and the world.  Is the letter an example of what Professor Don Levine called Ethiopia's Amharic tradition of "Wax and Gold?"  

Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Tigray Poised to Fight

 The International Crisis Group published on 18 February 2026 an analysis titled "Ethiopia, Eritrea and Tigray: A Powder Keg in the Horn of Africa."

A new war involving Ethiopia, Eritrea and Tigray Region of Ethiopia is palpable.  It is gripped by rising tensions between the federal government in Addis Ababa, on one side, and the Tigray Region and its northern neighbor, Eritrea, on the other.  Recent developments suggest they are getting ready for conflict.  

Conflict in Ethiopia

The International Crisis Group posted on 3 February 2026 a commentary titled "Flare-up in Tigray Highlights Risk of More War in Northern Ethiopia" by Magnus Taylor. 

A new outbreak of conflict between Tigray Defense Forces, on one side, and Amhara militias and federal troops, on the other, underscores an escalating standoff between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).  The federal government accuses the TPLF of forming a secret pact with Eritrea amid growing tensions between Addis Ababa and Asmara.    

Conflict in Ethiopia

 AEI's Critical Threats Africa File published on 5 February 2026 an article titled "Ethiopia" by Michael DeAngelo, Liam Karr, and Anahita Asudani.  

The article describes Tigray Defense Force efforts to take territory held by the Ethiopian National Defense Force and Amhara militias.  The heightened tensions could spark a broader conflict with Eritrea.  Should war break out between Ethiopia and Eritrea, Egypt and the UAE would likely get pulled into it.  

Waging Peace in Ethiopia's Tigray Region

 Ethiopia Insight published on 19 November 2025 a commentary titled "Waging Peace in Tigray, a Land Haunted by War" by Mohammedawel Hagos, Worabe University.

As the Pretoria Agreement unravels, the path forward in Tigray Region is threatened not just by the tension but by a political culture still in the grip of a stifling party-state and collective trauma.  The author calls for internal Tigrayan reconciliation as the only route to a peaceful future.  

Ethiopia: Ethnic Cleansing in Western Tigray

 The Economist published on 9 October 2025 an article titled "The Forgotten Horror of Western Tigray."

The article reports that for nearly 5 years ethnic cleansing has been occurring in Western Tigray on a scale reminiscent of the Balkan wars of the 1990s.  

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's Tigray Region Slow to Recover

 World Politics Review published on 12 September 2024 an article titled "Two Years Later, Tigray's Post-War Recovery Still Hasn't Begun" by Fred Harter, freelance journalist based in Addis Ababa.

The humanitarian situation in Tigray Region remains dire and no agreement has been reached on the future of Western Tigray, which remains under the control of Amhara militia.  Eritrean troops are still inside Tigray's border.  Tigray faces a political crisis with rival Tigray People's Liberation Front factions jostling for power.

Ethiopia's Tigray Region Continues to Face Humanitarian Emergency

 Refugees International published a report dated March 2024 titled "Scars of War and Depravations: An Urgent Call to Reverse Tigray's Humanitarian Crisis" by Sarah Miller.   

The report argues that aid has not scaled up to meet the need of Tigray Region's internally displaced people (IDP).  If relief does not come, many will die, and some even fear that the fragile Pretoria Peace Agreement could be in jeopardy.  Much of the region remains in dire straits, and many IDPs are languishing in very difficult conditions.  

Ongoing Tension/Conflict in Ethiopia

 The International Crisis Group posted on 16 November 2023 a 38 minute podcast titled "End of One War, Start of Another in Ethiopia" with Michael Woldemariam, University of Maryland.

Conflict has ended in Tigray Region but many Tigrayans remain under arms, borders among ethnic groups are not defined, some Eritrean forces remain in Tigray, and many humanitarian problems continue to fester.  Subsequent rebellions in Amhara Region and Oromia threaten peace again in Ethiopia.  Eritrea remains concerned about the continuing presence of the TPLF and slow pace of demobilization in Tigray.  There has been a widening gap between Asmara and Addis Ababa, exacerbated by Abiy Ahmed's desire for access to the Red Sea.  

Ethiopia's Ominous New War in Amhara Region

 The International Crisis Group published on 16 November 2023 an analysis titled "Ethiopia's Ominous New War in Amhara." 

Ethiopia is sliding into another conflict as many of Prime Minister Abiy's key Amhara allies during the war with Tigray region revolt against his rule.  Tensions between Amhara and factions in neighboring Oromia, which faces its own rebellion, add to the challenge.  

Are Ethiopia and Eritrea Edging Toward War?

 Foreign Policy posted on 7 November 2023 a commentary titled "Are Ethiopia and Eritrea on the Path to War?" by Mohamed Kheir Omer, former member of the Eritrean Liberation Front.  

The author says Eritrean military sources suggest the country is now bracing for a potential war as Ethiopia amasses troops near the Eritrean border in Zalembessa, which is 45 miles from the Eritrean port of Assab.  Eritrea has reportedly located 40,000 troops along the Tigray-Eritrea border.  The author concludes that "the current trajectory suggests a probable collision course that could have devastating regional implications."

Video of Meeting of International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia

 The United Nations posted on 21 September 2023 the one hour and 25 minute video account of the International Commission of  Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia.

The video opens with remarks by the chairman of the international commission, who cites atrocities in Tigray, Amhara, Oromia, and Afar regions.  He notes the lack of cooperation by the government of Ethiopia in the investigation.  A representative of the government of Ethiopia responds by rejecting the conclusions of the commission.  

Brief statements follow by member national representatives and those from non-governmental and human rights organizations.  The video concludes with a response by commission representatives to some of the questions raised by previous speakers.  

Systematic Human Rights Violations Continue in Ethiopia

 Reliefweb posted on 18 September 2023 the "Report of the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia."

The report identifies grave and systematic violations of international law and crimes committed in Tigray, as well as Amhara, Afar, and Oromia.  The conflict in Tigray has not ended with Eritrean troops and Amhara militia engaging in violations.  The government of Ethiopia has failed to effectively investigate violations.  

Ethiopia: Progress in Tigray, Not So Much in Oromia

 World Politics Review published on 12 June 2023 a commentary titled "The Tigray War Is Over.  Ethiopia's Conflict in Oromia Is Raging On" by Bereket Diriba, researcher in peace building.

Since the formal end of the war in Tigray Region in November 2022, Addis Ababa has determined to resolve the conflict in Oromia with military force.  The conflict between the Oromo Liberation Army and the Ethiopian government is a dispute over power and both sides' competing claims of legitimacy to represent the Oromo people.  Peace talks on Zanzibar failed to reach an understanding on key political matters, although they are expected to resume.  

Reports of Continuing Ethnic Cleansing in Ethiopia's Tigray Region

 Human Rights Watch published on 1 June 2023 a report titled "Ethiopia: Ethnic Cleansing Persists under Tigray Truce."

Human Rights Watch alleges that an ethnic cleansing campaign is continuing in Western Tigray Zone even after signature of the 2 November 2022 truce agreement.