France Issues Travel Warning for Tigray Amid Escalating Conflicts and Fears of Eritrea’s Aggression
France’s foreign ministry has advised its citizens to avoid the Tigray region in Ethiopia amid escalating internal conflicts involving the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. The warning stems from the recent clashes in Mekele and Adigrat, raising concerns about potential Eritrean aggression taking advantage of the instability.
On Thursday, France’s foreign ministry issued a warning advising its citizens against travel to the Tigray region in northern Ethiopia due to escalating clashes involving the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in the cities of Mekele and Adigrat. The ministry stated, “In view of the ongoing internal clashes in Tigray, particularly in Adigrat and Mekele, travel throughout the Tigray region is now formally inadvisable.” Additionally, it urged French nationals currently in Tigray to leave the region promptly.
The Tigray region was embroiled in conflict from November 2020 to November 2022, involving federal forces, local militias, and the Eritrean army against Tigrayan rebels, resulting in the deaths of at least 600,000 people as reported by the African Union. A peace agreement was achieved in Pretoria, South Africa, establishing an interim administration, yet significant delays in its implementation have led to divisions within the TPLF. Getachew Reda, assigned to head the interim administration by Prime Minister Ahmed Abiy, is currently contesting control against Debretsion Gebremichael.
Amidst these tensions, concerns are rising regarding Eritrea potentially seizing the opportunity to invade. Kjetil Tronvoll, a professor at Oslo University specializing in the region, stated, “We have been close to a new conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia for the past two years,” illustrating the precarious nature of the situation. The dissatisfaction of Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki with the 2022 peace agreement and broader geopolitical interests contribute to the escalating tensions, with Tronvoll asserting that “the situation in Tigray can be the triggering factor.”
A peace agreement reached by Abiy, who received the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts, initially improved relationships between Ethiopia and Eritrea after years of conflict; however, these relations have significantly deteriorated since the conclusion of the Tigray war in 2022. General Tsadkan Gebretensae, a senior strategist for the Tigray forces, warned, “A war between Ethiopia and Eritrea could break out at any moment,” emphasizing the fragile state of peace in the region.
In summary, the French foreign ministry has cautioned against travel to Tigray, Ethiopia, due to ongoing conflicts among TPLF factions. Concerns about potential Eritrean aggression are growing, fueled by historical tensions and dissatisfaction over recent peace agreements. The instability in Tigray poses a substantial risk, with analysts suggesting that it may act as a catalyst for renewed conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Continuous monitoring of this delicate situation is essential for those involved and neighboring countries.
Original Source: www.rfi.fr