Ethiopia: No Regard for Civilians as Fighting in Ethiopia Continues

What the report says

Fighting has again spread across northern Ethiopia, according to Deutsche Welle, with civilians in Tigray and nearby areas reporting shelling, deaths and limited access to medical care as internet and other communications remain heavily disrupted. The report says civilians in places such as Selenwuha and Alamata are facing the immediate effects of renewed clashes between federal forces and Tigrayan fighters, while the broader security picture remains difficult to verify because of the blackout and shifting front lines.

DW reported that the Ethiopian National Defense Force has been pushing toward Mekelle, the regional capital of Tigray, while Tigrayan forces are said to be defending towns farther south. The outlet also said local and pro-government sources claimed Alamata was taken by federal forces on September 27, and that the town has changed hands repeatedly since the 2020-2022 war. Residents quoted by DW accused forces on the ground of targeting civilians, though those claims could not be independently confirmed.

The new violence comes amid a widening political and military split. DW said the TPLF and several allied armed groups formed a new anti-government alliance in September, while the Amhara Fano movement has also turned against Addis Ababa after previously supporting federal forces. The article places the latest clashes in the context of the unfinished Pretoria Agreement of 2022, which ended the earlier war but left major disputes unresolved, including disputed territories, displacement and the disarmament of Tigrayan forces.

The report says aid groups and rights advocates are warning of damage to hospitals, schools, religious sites and transport links, as well as rising prices and restricted movement. The developments matter because they suggest Ethiopia’s fragile peace is unraveling again, with civilians once more bearing the brunt of a conflict that has already caused immense harm.