Ethiopia’s Tigray War: A Step Towards Peace Amidst Ongoing Conflicts

Ethiopia, while historically resilient against colonization, faces ongoing conflicts exacerbated by the Tigray War (2020-2022), which caused immense humanitarian crises. The war concluded with a peace agreement, yet conflicts between the Amhara and Oromia regions present significant challenges. Rooted in deep political and ethnic tensions, the road to lasting peace in Ethiopia is still fraught with difficulties.

Ethiopia, renowned for its rich history and lack of extensive colonization, has faced significant challenges in recent years, particularly due to internal conflicts. The Tigray War, a two-year conflict from 2020 to 2022, resulted in thousands of deaths, the displacement of over two million individuals, and extreme famine conditions in parts of the country. This conflict pitted the federal Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF), led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), historically a powerful political faction in Ethiopia.

The Tigray War commenced on November 4, 2020, after Abiy Ahmed initiated a military offensive in response to an attack on a military base. Tensions had escalated due to the sidelining of the TPLF following Abiy’s rise to power in 2018, which brought about significant reforms that met resistance from the TPLF. This conflict, while ignited in modernity, stems from deep-rooted political and ethnic grievances that have long existed within Ethiopia.

The international community took note of the conflict, with the Norwegian Nobel Committee publicly urging Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to facilitate peace and address the humanitarian crisis in Tigray, stating, “As prime minister and a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Abiy Ahmed has a special responsibility to end the conflict and contribute to peace.” However, after two years, the war concluded with the Pretoria Agreement signed in November 2022, brokered by the African Union, which ensured a ceasefire and humanitarian access to the Tigray region.

Despite the Tigray conflict’s resolution, new violence emerges from the Amhara and Oromia regions, as ongoing clashes bring further instability. Historical power dynamics have contributed to ethno-political disputes over land and resources, particularly in contested areas of Oromia, such as Wollega. The Amhara dominate historically, while the Oromo, the largest ethnic group, have long faced marginalization, fueling tensions over political representation and control of natural resources.

As Ethiopia moves forward, the peace process remains precarious. While the Tigray conflict has officially ended, many civilians continue to face the repercussions of violence, particularly in the unstable regions of Amhara and Oromia, underscoring the country’s challenging path towards lasting peace.

In conclusion, although the Tigray War has ended with a peace agreement, the subsequent unrest in Ethiopia, notably between the Amhara and Oromia regions, exemplifies the ongoing challenges to achieving sustained peace. Historical grievances continue to play a critical role in the emerging conflicts, and significant efforts remain necessary to address these underlying issues if lasting stability is to be attained in Ethiopia.

Original Source: www.outlookindia.com