Conflict Brief: The Tigray Crisis
A concise overview of the Tigray conflict in northern Ethiopia. Exploring its origins, key actors, humanitarian toll, and what’s at stake today. Despite a 2022 peace deal, tensions persist, with over 600,000 estimated deaths and millions still affected by famine, displacement, and unresolved ethnic divisions.
BRIEF AND EXPLAINERS
stephanie Mwangaza Kasereka
7/30/20251 min read
Location: Northern Ethiopia, principally in the Tigray region, bordering Eritrea and Sudan.
Started: The Tigray crisis began in November 2020.
Main Actors:
Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF)
Ethiopian Federal Government and allies
Amhara Regional Militias
What’s Happening: A devastating civil war broke out in the region between the Ethiopian government and the TPLF, leading to mass displacement, famine, and violence in the region. Although a peace deal was reached in 2022, signed in Pretoria, political divisions, ethnic tensions, and ongoing humanitarian crises remain unresolved. The conflict has reopened the question about federalism and national unity in a multiethnic state. In fact, by 2024, estimates suggest that up to 600,000 people may have died in Tigray as a result of the conflict.
Why it started: A long-standing power struggle lies at its root. Tensions escalated when Ethiopia postponed the 2020 elections due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a move the TPLF deemed unconstitutional.
What is at Stake: Millions remain affected by food insecurity, psychological trauma, and the ongoing lack of accountability for wartime atrocities, including sexual violence. Moreover, the conflict exposes the fragility of the federal government system in the country.
Why it matters now: Recent developments, such as the June 30 decision by the National Ethiopian Electoral Board(NEBE) to revoke the TPLF's legal status. This decision has sparked tensions again. The humanitarian situation is worsening, and without justice or accountability, peace remains fragile for the country and the region. Raising awareness is essential to ensure victims are not forgotten and pressure grows for meaningful political solutions.
References:
Human Rights Watch. (2020, December 23). Tigray Conflict. https://www.hrw.org/tag/tigray-conflict
Council on Foreign Relations. (2025, March 20). Conflict in Ethiopia. Global Conflict Tracker. https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/conflict-ethiopia
Africa Center for Strategic Studies. (2023, October 24). Rising tensions in Tigray risk regional conflict. https://africacenter.org/spotlight/rising-tensions-in-tigray-risk-regional-conflict/
Human Rights Watch. (2021, July 12). Interview: Uncovering crimes committed in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/07/12/interview-uncovering-crimes-committed-ethiopias-tigray-region
AllAfrica. (2024, June 5). Ethiopia: Breaking the cycle – Plea for peace, unity, and inclusive dialogue in Tigray. https://allafrica.com/stories/202406050042.html
Plaut, M. (2024, July 22). New study of Tigray – Violence and casualties during the war and after. https://martinplaut.com/2024/07/22/new-study-of-tigray-violence-and-casualties-during-the-war-and-after/