Tensions are rising in Tigray after regional authorities announced plans to restore their parliament, a move that has sparked fears of renewed conflict with Addis Ababa.
The decision has alarmed observers who warn it could undermine the fragile peace established under the Pretoria Peace Agreement, which ended one of Africa’s deadliest recent conflicts.
The war between federal forces and fighters loyal to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front between 2020 and 2022 left at least 600,000 people dead. The conflict erupted after Tigray conducted regional elections in defiance of the federal government, which rejected the outcome.
Analysts say the move to reinstate the 2020 parliament risks reopening old political wounds and could be interpreted as a direct challenge to federal authority.
There are also growing concerns that any escalation could draw in Eritrea, which played a key role in supporting Ethiopian federal forces during the war.
Regional dynamics have since shifted. While the TPLF is believed to have strengthened ties with Eritrea, relations between Asmara and Ethiopia have deteriorated, with Eritrea accusing Addis Ababa of harbouring ambitions over the strategic port of Assab.
The situation raises the spectre of a broader regional crisis, particularly given the history of hostility between Ethiopia and Eritrea, including a devastating border war between 1998 and 2000.
With tensions mounting, observers warn that any miscalculation could unravel the fragile peace and plunge the Horn of Africa back into conflict.
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