Opposition parties in Tigray have warned of a possible return to war, urging the international community to take urgent action to preserve peace and protect civilians.
Salsay Weyane Tigray said escalating political and military tensions threatened a “catastrophic collapse” of the fragile peace that ended the two-year Tigray war in November 2022. The party called on the United Nations, African Union, European Union, United States and other mediators to intervene immediately, strengthen monitoring of the ceasefire, and ensure the safe return of displaced people.
The Tigray Independence Party also expressed similar concerns, citing rising tensions between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and the Ethiopian National Defense Forces. TIP said unilateral actions by either side could undermine the cessation of hostilities agreement, warning that renewed fighting would be devastating for civilians, particularly hundreds of thousands of displaced people still unable to return home.
Both parties emphasized that the Pretoria peace agreement, signed in November 2022, requires continuous international engagement and monitoring to prevent violations. They urged mediators to take urgent measures to enforce the agreement, protect civilians, and prevent a return to large-scale violence.
The warnings from the opposition parties come as reports emerge of clashes between government forces and Tigrayan fighters in northwestern Tigray and deteriorating conditions in Tigray, stoking fears of renewed hostilities.