Tigray rebels launch offensive into Afar and Amhara, raising fears of renewed civil war

Fears of a return to civil war in Ethiopia have intensified as the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) launched an offensive into the neighboring states of Afar and Amhara. The attack coincides with the formation of a new rebel coalition that seeks to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

The conflict, which escalated after the 2020‑2022 fighting between the Ethiopian army and the TPLF, has already claimed about 600,000 lives. Both sides now accuse each other of provoking a new round of open conflict, further heightening concerns about a broader war.

The offensive by Tigray rebels into Afar and Amhara and the creation of a new rebel coalition have raised fears of a return to civil war in Ethiopia.