Tensions escalate in Tigray region amid shifting alliances and territorial ambitions
Ethiopia stands at the precipice of another devastating war, according to a recent Channel 4 News investigation. The crisis centers on the northern Tigray region, where a newly formed military faction threatens to reignite violence in a nation still recovering from its recent civil war.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who previously won the Nobel Peace Prize for reconciling with neighboring Eritrea, now pursues access to the Eritrean port of Assab. This ambition has dramatically reshaped the region’s political landscape, creating unlikely partnerships among former adversaries.
The Tigray Peace Force represents a significant development in this evolving conflict. Composed primarily of defectors from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), these fighters have switched allegiances to support the federal government. Dessalegn Haftu, a businessman-turned-soldier and co-founder of the group, exemplifies this transformation. After witnessing atrocities in his hometown during the previous conflict, he initially fought against Addis Ababa before joining the new force.
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The previous civil war, lasting from 2020 to 2022, saw the TPLF battle against a coalition including the Ethiopian federal government, Fano militia from Amhara, and Eritrean forces. Now, in a remarkable reversal, the TPLF, Fano militia, and Eritrea have united against the government they once opposed.
Civilians in border towns like Abala express deep anxiety about renewed hostilities. Major General Zewdu Kiros, a senior Tigray Peace Force commander, acknowledged local concerns about divided leadership potentially transforming their communities into battlegrounds.
While the newly established force has engaged only in minor skirmishes thus far, observers warn that full-scale conflict appears increasingly likely. Ethiopia’s diplomatic capital continues modernizing under Abiy’s leadership, even as the country’s northern frontier prepares for potential warfare.
Source: Channel 4 News report on Ethiopia-Tigray tensions, December 2025
