Ethiopian President Accuses External Actors of Fueling Renewed Tigray Conflict
At the UN General Assembly, Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie attributed the recent resurgence of fighting in the northern Tigray region to interference from external actors, implicitly pointing to Egypt and Eritrea. Despite these challenges, he emphasized Ethiopia's commitment to peace and development. The conflict involves federal troops and the Tigray People's Liberation Front, with opposition groups forming an alliance against the government.
Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, attributing the renewed fighting in the northern Tigray region to interference by “external actors,” implicitly referencing Egypt and Eritrea, countries with longstanding tensions with Ethiopia.
The conflict in Tigray reignited recently, breaking a 2022 peace agreement that had ended a brutal two-year war. Fighting pits Ethiopian federal forces against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which, along with six other opposition groups, has formed an alliance aiming to overthrow Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government.
President Taye highlighted Ethiopia’s “immense restraint” despite ongoing external meddling and reaffirmed the nation’s determination to become a leading development force in Africa. He called on those he termed “forces of destruction and mayhem” to respect the Horn of Africa’s right to peace and prosperity.
The tensions with Eritrea primarily concern border and regional security issues, while disputes with Egypt revolve around Nile water management and Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam. The United Nations and European Union have urged restraint and a return to the African Union-brokered peace process.