About a year ago, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed started a military campaign in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. Since then, war has broken out. Thousands have died, nearly two million Ethiopians have been displaced, and the country has been forced into a famine. It appears that the war is currently in the rebels' control as they continue to move east towards Djibouti in hopes of gaining control of a valuable trade and supply route. The rebels mentioned are a part of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, more commonly referred to as the TPLF. 

The present conflict in Ethiopia has roots that originated centuries ago: a power struggle between new leadership and old leadership. Tensions have only been worsened by the ongoing land dispute between the Amharas and the Tigrayans, who have been fighting over this land for centuries. Ethiopia has fallen victim to the hands of the TPLF. In an interview with NPR, Desagene Chanie, leader of a nationalist movement of the Amarhas, claims “the TPLF tried to change the ethnic makeup of the region, which he claims is historically Amhara. They did so, he says, to stack the deck against the potential referendum, which would decide the fate of those disputed lands.” But the conflict isn’t just over the land. As Chanie mentioned, there is an ethnic conflict that appears to be the main driver behind this strife.  

In 1991, the TPLF unseated an oppressive communist government, replacing it with their repressive government that ruled for three decades. The new governing body consisted of a rebel alliance that had the TPLF sitting at its head. During this time, the TPLF marginalized the Oromo and Amhara ethnic groups. Resentment for this governing party grew over time, helping Abiy Ahmed, who is ethnically Oromo, to enter Ethiopia's government in 2018 and prepare to make drastic changes. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed began planning to reduce the power of the group’s influence in Ethiopia,angering the Tigrayan government. There, the conflict escalated to its current state. Tensions rose, and the TPLF retreated into the Tigray region. 

About a year ago, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed started a military campaign in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. Since then, war has broken out. Thousands have died, nearly two million Ethiopians have been displaced, and the country has been forced into a famine. It appears that the war is currently in the rebels' control as they continue to move east towards Djibouti in hopes of gaining control of a valuable trade and supply route. The rebels mentioned are a part of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, more commonly referred to as the TPLF. 

The present conflict in Ethiopia has roots that originated centuries ago: a power struggle between new leadership and old leadership. Tensions have only been worsened by the ongoing land dispute between the Amharas and the Tigrayans, who have been fighting over this land for centuries. Ethiopia has fallen victim to the hands of the TPLF. In an interview with NPR, Desagene Chanie, leader of a nationalist movement of the Amarhas, claims “the TPLF tried to change the ethnic makeup of the region, which he claims is historically Amhara. They did so, he says, to stack the deck against the potential referendum, which would decide the fate of those disputed lands.” But the conflict isn’t just over the land. As Chanie mentioned, there is an ethnic conflict that appears to be the main driver behind this strife.  

In 1991, the TPLF unseated an oppressive communist government, replacing it with their repressive government that ruled for three decades. The new governing body consisted of a rebel alliance that had the TPLF sitting at its head. During this time, the TPLF marginalized the Oromo and Amhara ethnic groups. Resentment for this governing party grew over time, helping Abiy Ahmed, who is ethnically Oromo, to enter Ethiopia's government in 2018 and prepare to make drastic changes. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed began planning to reduce the power of the group’s influence in Ethiopia,angering the Tigrayan government. There, the conflict escalated to its current state. Tensions rose, and the TPLF retreated into the Tigray region. 

In 2020, forces from the TPLF attacked a federal military base in the Tigray region. In response, the Prime Minister sent military forces to combat Tigrayan military forces. When the Prime Minister and Ethiopia’s allies employed a militant reponse, the TPLF retreated. The military response proved to be less effective over time as some military officers were discovered to be supporters of the TPLF’s cause. In June, the Ethiopian military was defeated and forced to exit the Tigray region. Several soldiers were left behind to be held in captivity by the TPLF. 

About a year ago, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed started a military campaign in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. Since then, war has broken out. Thousands have died, nearly two million Ethiopians have been displaced, and the country has been forced into a famine. It appears that the war is currently in the rebels' control as they continue to move east towards Djibouti in hopes of gaining control of a valuable trade and supply route. The rebels mentioned are a part of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, more commonly referred to as the TPLF. 

The present conflict in Ethiopia has roots that originated centuries ago: a power struggle between new leadership and old leadership. Tensions have only been worsened by the ongoing land dispute between the Amharas and the Tigrayans, who have been fighting over this land for centuries. Ethiopia has fallen victim to the hands of the TPLF. In an interview with NPR, Desagene Chanie, leader of a nationalist movement of the Amarhas, claims “the TPLF tried to change the ethnic makeup of the region, which he claims is historically Amhara. They did so, he says, to stack the deck against the potential referendum, which would decide the fate of those disputed lands.” But the conflict isn’t just over the land. As Chanie mentioned, there is an ethnic conflict that appears to be the main driver behind this strife.  

In 1991, the TPLF unseated an oppressive communist government, replacing it with their repressive government that ruled for three decades. The new governing body consisted of a rebel alliance that had the TPLF sitting at its head. During this time, the TPLF marginalized the Oromo and Amhara ethnic groups. Resentment for this governing party grew over time, helping Abiy Ahmed, who is ethnically Oromo, to enter Ethiopia's government in 2018 and prepare to make drastic changes. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed began planning to reduce the power of the group’s influence in Ethiopia,angering the Tigrayan government. There, the conflict escalated to its current state. Tensions rose, and the TPLF retreated into the Tigray region. 

In 2020, forces from the TPLF attacked a federal military base in the Tigray region. In response, the Prime Minister sent military forces to combat Tigrayan military forces. When the Prime Minister and Ethiopia’s allies employed a militant reponse, the TPLF retreated. The military response proved to be less effective over time as some military officers were discovered to be supporters of the TPLF’s cause. In June, the Ethiopian military was defeated and forced to exit the Tigray region. Several soldiers were left behind to be held in captivity by the TPLF. 

Since then, this war has been controlled by the TPLF. On Tuesday, November 30, 2021, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said in a video that was played on state media, “The youth of Tigray is perishing like leaves. Knowing it is defeated, it is being led by one who does not have a clear vision or plan. It should surrender today to the Ethiopian National Defense Force, to the special forces, to the militias and to the people.” However, Ethiopia is on the defense, hoping that conflict will die down enough for the government to be able to run operations smoothly. Many citizens are suffering as a result of this war. Ethiopia has persisted through unstable government transition before, and hope that the government will be able to regain their control of Ethiopia soon.Since then, this war has been controlled by the TPLF. On Tuesday, November 30, 2021, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said in a video that was played on state media, “The youth of Tigray is perishing like leaves. Knowing it is defeated, it is being led by one who does not have a clear vision or plan. It should surrender today to the Ethiopian National Defense Force, to the special forces, to the militias and to the people.” However, Ethiopia is on the defense, hoping that conflict will die down enough for the government to be able to run operations smoothly. Many citizens are suffering as a result of this war. Ethiopia has persisted through unstable government transition before, and hope that the government will be able to regain their control of Ethiopia soon.In 2020, forces from the TPLF attacked a federal military base in the Tigray region. In response, the Prime Minister sent military forces to combat Tigrayan military forces. When the Prime Minister and Ethiopia’s allies employed a militant reponse, the TPLF retreated. The military response proved to be less effective over time as some military officers were discovered to be supporters of the TPLF’s cause. In June, the Ethiopian military was defeated and forced to exit the Tigray region. Several soldiers were left behind to be held in captivity by the TPLF. 

Since then, this war has been controlled by the TPLF. On Tuesday, November 30, 2021, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said in a video that was played on state media, “The youth of Tigray is perishing like leaves. Knowing it is defeated, it is being led by one who does not have a clear vision or plan. It should surrender today to the Ethiopian National Defense Force, to the special forces, to the militias and to the people.” However, Ethiopia is on the defense, hoping that conflict will die down enough for the government to be able to run operations smoothly. Many citizens are suffering as a result of this war. Ethiopia has persisted through unstable government transition before, and hope that the government will be able to regain their control of Ethiopia soon.