Residents of Tigray Region have begun fleeing their homes amid growing fears that civil war could erupt again in Ethiopia, raising concerns about a possible return to one of Africa’s most devastating recent conflicts.
Reports from local sources indicate that families are leaving towns and villages as tensions rise between rival political and military factions in the northern Ethiopian region. Many residents say they fear that fighting could resume if the fragile peace established after the previous war collapses.
The Tigray conflict, which began in 2020, involved federal forces and their allies battling the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. The war caused widespread destruction, displacement and humanitarian suffering, with millions of people affected by violence, food shortages and limited access to essential services.
Although a peace agreement was reached in 2022 to end the fighting, the region has remained politically fragile. Analysts warn that unresolved tensions between regional leaders and the federal government continue to pose risks to long-term stability.
In recent days, reports of military movements and political disputes have heightened fears among civilians that hostilities could resume. As a result, some residents are moving to safer areas or crossing into neighbouring regions in search of security.
Humanitarian organisations are closely monitoring the situation, warning that renewed conflict could trigger another large-scale displacement crisis in the Horn of Africa. Aid groups say many communities in Tigray are still recovering from the impact of the previous war and remain vulnerable to renewed violence.
The federal government in Addis Ababa has not officially confirmed any new military operations in the region. However, calls are growing from international partners and humanitarian agencies for dialogue and restraint to prevent the situation from escalating.
Observers say maintaining the fragile peace will be critical to avoiding further suffering in a region already deeply scarred by years of conflict.
