Ethiopia Establishes Caretaker Government in Tigray Amid Renewed Fighting

Ethiopia's government has established a six-month caretaker administration for the Tigray region following a surge in fighting that has strained a 2022 peace agreement. The new administration is tasked with restoring public services, aiding the return of displaced people, and preparing for elections within six months under federal oversight, according to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office.

The announcement comes after the withdrawal of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) from Mekelle and the entry of government-allied forces into the regional capital on October 4. Recent weeks have seen renewed hostilities in the northern region, threatening to unravel the peace deal that ended a devastating two-year conflict.

At Mekelle’s Tigray Martyrs’ Memorial Monument, hundreds of former combatants began registering on Wednesday for a program aimed at facilitating their transition back to civilian life. Some carried documentation while seeking shelter from the elements. Authorities have not disclosed the number of former fighters who have signed up.

Filmon Gebreselassie, a 33-year-old day laborer and former fighter, stated that while he and others were called upon by the TPLF to rejoin their units, he chose not to return to combat. "I decided instead to focus on raising my children," he said. Gebreselassie added that he had disarmed following the 2022 peace agreement but was unable to register for the reintegration program before tensions escalated.

Many young men at the registration sites declined to be interviewed, citing fear of retaliation from the TPLF. The TPLF, in an October 14 statement on Facebook, labeled Tigrayans collaborating with the federal government as “traitors” who would face “accountability and public judgment.” Human Rights Watch previously reported that Tigrayan authorities had ordered former fighters back to their units through a compulsory recruitment campaign.

The disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of former Tigrayan fighters is a key component of the 2022 peace agreement. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's office has accused the TPLF of obstructing the agreement, asserting that recent fighting resulted in the rebels' defeat. The TPLF, however, has urged its forces to continue fighting and called for support from Tigrayans.

Magnus Taylor, deputy Horn of Africa director at the International Crisis Group, cautioned against interpreting the capture of towns as the definitive end of the conflict. "We shouldn’t imagine that this conflict is completely over just because the TPLF has lost Mekelle," Taylor told The Associated Press. He noted that while capturing towns and roads might hinder Tigrayan fighters, it would not necessarily secure the vast rural areas where rebel forces previously regrouped.

Adding to the regional instability, Ethiopia has accused Eritrean troops of occupying parts of its territory, an allegation that remains unverified by the Associated Press. Eritrea, in turn, has condemned Ethiopia's assertion of self-defense measures as a declaration of war. Taylor warned that the proximity of these forces heightens the risk of a wider conflict. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged de-escalation during a call with Prime Minister Abiy on Wednesday, according to the U.S. State Department.

Eritrean troops had previously fought alongside Ethiopian forces during the 2020-2022 war, which resulted in approximately 500,000 civilian deaths attributed to violence, famine, and the collapse of health services, according to research from Ghent University in Belgium.