A new alliance of armed groups in Ethiopia's Tigray region has reportedly been forcibly recruiting men and boys, some as young as 15, as renewed fighting threatens a fresh humanitarian crisis.
Key facts
- Renewed conflict erupted on 23 September between Ethiopia's federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).
- Reports say a new alliance of armed groups is forcibly recruiting men and boys, some as young as 15.
- Civilians are trying to flee as men and boys are rounded up on the streets.
- The fighting has shattered the fragile Pretoria peace agreement signed in November 2022.
- The renewed conflict threatens a fresh humanitarian crisis in northern Ethiopia.
A new alliance of armed groups in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region has reportedly been forcibly recruiting men and boys, some as young as 15, as renewed fighting threatens a fresh humanitarian crisis, according to the Guardian.
The Guardian reported that civilians have been trying to flee as men and boys are rounded up on the streets by the new alliance. The renewed conflict has raised fears of a widening war in the region.
Fighting erupted again on 23 September between Ethiopia’s federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the group that rules the region. The outbreak shattered a fragile peace that had held since late 2022.
The clashes effectively broke the Pretoria peace agreement, which was signed between the two sides in November 2022 to end an earlier period of conflict.
The report points to the forced recruitment of boys as young as 15, raising concerns about potential war crimes as the conflict spreads and civilians attempt to escape the fighting.
The renewed violence threatens to reignite a humanitarian emergency in a region that had seen a fragile calm following the 2022 agreement.
Why it matters
The reported forced recruitment of children and the collapse of the 2022 peace deal signal that one of the world's most devastating recent conflicts may be reigniting. A return to widespread fighting in Tigray risks a renewed humanitarian crisis affecting civilians across northern Ethiopia.
Frequently asked questions
When did the renewed fighting in Tigray begin?
According to the Guardian, renewed conflict erupted on 23 September between Ethiopia's federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).
What peace agreement has been affected?
The renewed fighting shattered the Pretoria peace agreement, which was signed between the two sides in November 2022.
Who is reportedly being recruited by armed groups?
The Guardian reports that a new alliance of armed groups has been forcibly recruiting men and boys, some as young as 15, with civilians rounded up on the streets.