By Fridah Mbuvi, June 12, 2026
The Ethiopian federal government has accused armed elements in the northern Tigray region of preparing to launch a major military offensive, raising fears of renewed large-scale conflict in the Horn of Africa just years after the devastating civil war.
In a joint editorial published on Al Jazeera, Minister of East African Affairs Getachew Reda and National Intelligence Chief Redwan Hussein alleged that hardline factions of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) have developed coordinated plans to attack federal positions in the coming days.
The government claims the alleged mobilisation involves external coordination with neighbouring Eritrea, with secret meetings reportedly taking place across Mekelle, Asmara and Sudan. Officials further argue that such alliances point to a broader regional escalation that could destabilise already fragile peace arrangements.
Addis Ababa also accused the TPLF of violating the 2022 Pretoria Peace Agreement, saying the group has dismantled the federally sanctioned interim administration in Tigray and replaced it with its own governance structures. The federal government further criticised the reinstatement of a regional Tigrayan parliament, which it described as unconstitutional and illegitimate.
The TPLF, however, has strongly denied the allegations. Senior party official Amanuel Assefa dismissed claims of an imminent offensive, instead accusing federal forces of surrounding Tigray and preparing for renewed war. He said the federal government is the party escalating tensions through military encirclement and recent strikes.
Tensions have intensified in recent weeks following reported drone strikes by federal forces on Tigrayan military positions near Sheraro on June 5, 2026, an incident that regional authorities say caused casualties and further inflamed hostilities.
The crisis comes in the wake of Ethiopia’s June 1 national elections, which were conducted under heightened insecurity. Large parts of the country, including the entirety of Tigray, were excluded from the vote due to instability and the presence of armed groups.
Observers warn that the escalating accusations and troop movements on both sides of the internal boundary risk pushing Ethiopia back toward large-scale conflict reminiscent of the 2020–2022 war, which left hundreds of thousands dead and displaced millions.
