Renewed fighting in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region has shattered the Pretoria peace agreement, prompting widespread allegations of forced conscription of teenagers and adults by armed groups. The outbreak follows months of rising tensions and a disputed offensive, triggering fresh humanitarian concerns across the embattled region.
The Collapse of the Pretoria Agreement and the Return of Conflict
The fragile peace that held in northern Ethiopia since November 2022 has shattered following a renewal of fighting between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. Hostilities erupted on September 23 after months of escalating friction, culminating in a TPLF offensive that the regional group described as a response to federal drone strikes.
Forced Recruitment and Civilian Displacement in Tigray
As early battles unfold along critical commercial routes and near airbases, civilians inside Tigray face severe dangers, including widespread conscription efforts. Residents and individuals who have fled the region report that armed personnel are stopping people in streets and public transport hubs, detaining individuals at gunpoint.
Conscription targets primarily span ages 15 to 40, though accounts indicate males up to 65 have been approached. Parents have reportedly attempted to shield their children by presenting medical documentation proving physical unfitness, though officers frequently ignore these certificates and conscript anyone capable of physical movement.
Gezu, a 34-year-old survivor of the previous war, recounted that after initial requests for volunteers failed, authorities began rounding up people from the streets. Another resident, a 40-year-old father named Ephrem, noted that financial means offer the only protection. Wealthier families can protect themselves and their children by bribing officers, leaving poorer families vulnerable.
Financial Freezes and Communication Cuts Worsen Humanitarian Crisis
The humanitarian situation is further compounded by a severe financial and communications squeeze. Citizens’ bank accounts were abruptly frozen before reopening with a daily withdrawal limit of 2,000 birr (£9), an amount residents say is wholly inadequate against skyrocketing food prices. Communication lines, including internet and telephone services, have experienced cuts ordered by the TPLF, while Ethiopian Airlines suspended flights after Tigrayan forces temporarily seized the airport in Mekelle.