The International Community Struggles to Address the Ethiopian Conflict

The withdrawal of Tigrayan forces into the countryside has parallels with the civil war of 1974–1991. Yet this time, other regional actors are involved.

As the war in Tigray enters its sixth month, there are few signs of it ending. The military and political situation appears as intractable as it was when the conflict commenced on 4 November 2020. As the International Crisis Group put it: ‘Both federal and resistance forces are digging in for a lengthy battle in Ethiopia’s Tigray region’. It is worth recalling the history of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which is leading the current resistance. Th