Tigray War

The Tigray War, part of the much larger Second Ethiopian Civil War, is an ongoing revolution in the Tigray National Regional State and neighboring regions led by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) against the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The revolution was a response to the racially motivated anti-Tigrayan policies by Abiy Ahmed's administration.^[1] While the war initially seemed as if the Ethiopian government was going to be able to squash the TPLF's revolution, the Tigrayan forces have managed to fight off the Ethiopian regulars and have managed to turn the war in their favor.^[2] Abiy Ahmed's administration has continued to try and forcefully squash the rebellion, which has only further fanned the flames of the Tigrayan insurrection.^[3]

Historical background

Tigray People's Liberation Front

The TPLF was founded in May of 1983 in northern Ethiopia in response to the oppression of ethnic Tigrayans by the various governments of Ethiopia throughout history. The TPLF was founded with aim of the "elimination of national oppression". It also sought the establishment of a "people's democratic state".^[4]

Following the Autumn of Nations, the TPLF took control of Ethiopia and became the ruling party of the country for around thirty years. However, the TPLF's government was brought down in 2018.^[5]

2018-2020 political crisis

After the TPLF's deposition in 2018, a power struggle began between the TPLF's former government and Abiy Ahmed's new government.^[5] Abiy Ahmed's administration rejected reconciling with the TPLF, instead taking racially motivated actions against Tigrayans. These actions caused a rise in dissent among Tigrayans.^[1]

Foreign involvement

State of Eritrea

The State of Eritrea has deployed troops into the Tigray National Regional State, using their military to fight in active combat against the TPLF.^[6] While the Eritrean government promised to pull their troops out of Tigray in April of 2021, they have yet to withdraw from the conflict.^[7]

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates has provided military support to the Ethiopian government.^[8]^[9] This has come largely in the form of air support as the Emirates have deployed military planes into the Tigray National Regional State to support the Ethiopian war effort against Tigray.^[10]

United States of America

Prior to the war, the United States of America was a firm ally of Ethiopia. Initially, the Trump administration didn't take any action during the conflict when it began in November of 2020. After the Biden administration came to power in January of 2021, the United States began advocating for setting up humanitarian corridors. Despite this, Biden has still refused to condemn the Ethiopian government's war crimes in the conflict.^[11] Eritrea has alleged that the United States is supporting the TPLF,^[12] however these allegations contradict the actual actions taken by the Biden administration.

War crimes

Aftermath of an Ethiopian airstrike in Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray National Region State.

Airstrikes on civilians

See main article: Airstrike

Both Ethiopian and Eritriean forces have engaged in air strikes against civilians in the Tigray National Regional State.^[13]

Ethnic cleansing

See main article: Ethnic cleansing

Over the course of the Tigray War, the Ethiopian government under Abiy Ahmed has taken actions of ethnic cleansing against the Tigrayan people, forcing them out of the military regardless of loyalty.^[8] Abiy Ahmed has also purged ethnic Tigrayans from the government.^[1] In the western parts of the Tigray National Regional State, Ethiopian forces have taken actions of ethnic cleansing against regular civilians.^[14] The Ethiopian government has tried to hide evidence of ethnic celansing back blocking telecommunications with Tigray.^[15]

Genocide

See main article: Genocide

As the Tigray War has continued to become more brutal since its opening in November of 2020, the Ethiopian government has escalated the war into a genocide of ethnic Tigrayans. As of May of 2022, the genocide has claimed 500,000 victims.^[16]

References

[:0-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Ethiopia’s Tigray crisis: Socialism or barbarism

[2] Ethiopia: the fall of Mekele marks a turning point in the war in Tigray

[3] What is behind the war in Tigray?

[4] PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC PROGRAMME OF THE TIGRAY PEOPLE'S LIBERATION FRONT (TPLF)

[:2-5] 5.0 ^5.1 The conflict in Ethiopia—who’s fighting who, and why? | Start Here

[6] Ethiopian PM confirms Eritrean troops entered Tigray during conflict

[7] Eritrea confirms its troops are fighting in Ethiopia’s Tigray

[:1-8] 8.0 ^8.1 Ethiopia's war in Tigray turns into defeat

[9] UAE air bridge provides military support to Ethiopia gov’t

[10] The UAE Joins The Tigray War: Emirati Wing Loong I UCAVs Deploy To Ethiopia

[11] Ethiopia’s War Leads to Ethnic Cleansing in Tigray Region, U.S. Report Says

[12] Eritrea blames US support for Tigray’s leaders for the war

[13] Ethiopia: Unlawful Shelling of Tigray Urban Areas

[14] Crimes against Humanity and Ethnic Cleansing in Ethiopia’s Western Tigray Zone

[15] “Dying by blood or by hunger”: The war in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, explained

[16] There’s Genocide in Tigray, but Nobody’s Talking About it

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]