November 08, 2021

Chaos ensues in Ethiopia with potential for civil war

topic:	Peace and Reconciliation
located:	Ethiopia
editor:	Bob Koigi

As the Ethiopian conflict exacerbates and claims more lives, it now threatens to sink the country into a full-blown civil war in what could have dire ramifications for its neighbours and the fragile Horn of Africa region.

The year-long conflict pitting government troops against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has resulted in the deaths of thousands of people and the displacement of over two million others. As the deadliest conflict in Africa’s second-most populous country, the humanitarian situation is rapidly getting out of hand. The UN estimates that about seven million people are in dire need of relief assistance. 

This report comes at a time when the conflict has taken a dangerous turn, with both government and rebel factions advancing inflammatory and hateful campaigns. Just recently, the government declared a nationwide state of emergency and called on residents to take up arms and defend themselves. There have been reports of ethnic profiling, enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests of Tigrayans by government forces. 

As TPLF advances its operations and captures more towns, ordinary citizens have paid the ultimate price by being tortured and killed. 

At a very minimum, the warring factions have a fiduciary duty to respect the rights of civilians who are not participating in the conflict and give room for humanitarian aid to reach those who desperately need it, especially women and children. 

As the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) UN Security Council and Ethiopia neighbours issue statements condemning the war and calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, they now need to work together to avert further atrocities by exploring every option, including dialogue, mediation and sanctions.

An unstable Ethiopia is a catastrophe for the region, the continent and the world due to the impending influx of refugees to neighbouring countries and disruption of trade. The world cannot abandon Ethiopia.

Photo by Sergey Pesterev

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