Ethiopian Forces, TPLF Clash in Western Tigray, Breaching 2022 Peace Deal
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Aug 1
Ethiopian Forces, TPLF Clash in Western Tigray, Breaching 2022 Peace Deal
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Aug 1
Summary
Western Tigray saw fighting erupt at dawn Saturday near Shererina on the Sudan border, in what analysts called the gravest breach yet of the November 2022 Pretoria peace deal.
Tigray's regional government said federal forces launched the assault, while former transitional leader Abraham Belay said forces loyal to TPLF chairman Debretsion Gebremichael started the clashes.
The violence follows months of worsening ties between Addis Ababa and the TPLF over unfulfilled peace terms, with Tigrayan authorities accusing the government of a blockade and drone attacks that escalated into full-scale war.
Getachew Reda, now an adviser to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, urged Tigray Defence Forces commanders to abandon Debretsion, while Ethiopian state media had already accused him of pushing Tigray toward war.
The renewed conflict threatens to unravel a deal that ended a two-year war which killed hundreds of thousands, after US pressure and mediation failed to stop the accord from fraying.
Will the controversial May 2026 election in Tigray ultimately trigger the complete unraveling of Ethiopia's fragile political stability?
Could the sudden collapse of Ethiopia's peace deal ignite a massive multi-front proxy war across the Horn of Africa?
What hidden alliances are fueling the deadly new clashes in western Tigray as internal power struggles tear the region apart?
The Collapse of the 2022 Pretoria Agreement: Triggers, Consequences, and the Risk of Regional War in Northern Ethiopia
Overview
In August 2026, intense fighting erupted in western Tigray, breaking the fragile peace established by the 2022 Pretoria Agreement. The violence forced hundreds of civilians and wounded fighters to flee into Sudan, while Tigrayan forces began forced recruitment to strengthen their ranks. This escalation is rooted in unresolved territorial disputes, political exclusion, and deep internal fractures within Tigray’s leadership. The conflict is further complicated by shifting regional alliances, with Eritrea and Sudan aligning against Ethiopia, and Amhara militias maintaining control over contested areas. As humanitarian conditions worsen and diplomatic efforts stall, the risk of a wider regional war grows.