The TPLF, a Tigrayan political party, ruled Ethiopia for decades before being ousted by current Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his Prosperity Party in 2018. The Tigray people make up about five per cent of Ethiopia’s ethnically divided population.

The TPLF came under the federal government’s scrutiny in September when it held regional elections despite Ahmed’s orders to delay all elections until 2021, supposedly due to concerns over COVID. The delayed elections extended Ahmed’s rule as Prime Minister well beyond his elected term, leading to criticism from domestic opposition parties and some in the international community.

The tensions turned violent in early November when federal troops gathered near the Tigray border, and Tigrayan troops stormed a federal military facility in the region. Fighting has continued since that time with hundreds of deaths reported.

The pursuit of clashes could lead to a humanitarian crisis affecting millions. The World Council of Churches condemned the violence committed against civilians and called for peace talks. However both sides remain resistant to the idea of entering peace talks.

Source: persecution.org

Image: theconversation.com