Hundreds of people have fled Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region into neighbouring Sudan after heavy fighting erupted between forces loyal to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Ethiopian military, raising concerns that the country could be sliding back into conflict.
The latest violence broke out on Saturday in Shererina, a town close to the Sudanese border, and continued into Sunday, according to local officials and residents. The clashes mark one of the most serious military confrontations in Tigray since the devastating civil war officially ended in 2022.
A TPLF official said both sides exchanged heavy artillery fire, while drones were also deployed during the fighting, highlighting the intensity of the confrontation.
Civilians flee into Sudan
The exact number of casualties remains unknown, but Sudanese medical workers and local officials told AFP that civilians, along with injured fighters, crossed the border seeking safety.
Residents in the area described hearing sustained explosions, heavy gunfire and aircraft flying overhead throughout Saturday as violence spread across the border region.
The fresh displacement comes as Sudan is already struggling with its own humanitarian crisis caused by its ongoing civil war, raising concerns over additional pressure on border communities.
Peace deal under renewed strain
The fighting has revived fears that Ethiopia’s fragile peace process could unravel.
The two-year war between the Ethiopian federal government and the TPLF claimed hundreds of thousands of lives before ending with an African Union-mediated peace agreement in November 2022.
While the accord halted large-scale fighting, key provisions have yet to be fully implemented. Political tensions have persisted, particularly after the TPLF regained control of Tigray by removing the interim regional administration established under the peace agreement.
The latest violence has renewed questions about whether the peace deal remains sustainable.
Both sides trade blame
Each side has accused the other of triggering the latest clashes.
The TPLF-led regional administration alleged that federal forces launched what it described as an “open war” in the Shererina area, arguing that the offensive violated the 2022 peace agreement and was intended to weaken and divide the people of Tigray.
Ethiopia’s federal government has not issued a formal statement on the fighting. However, government minister Abraham Belay acknowledged that clashes had taken place.
In a message posted on social media, Belay blamed what he called the “TPLF clique” for starting the violence. He warned that continued fighting could have severe consequences but also appealed for dialogue, saying disagreements should be settled through negotiations rather than armed conflict.
“Today, it is better to reach out for peace before destruction,” he wrote.
Regional tensions deepen
The fighting has also heightened fears that Ethiopia’s conflict could become increasingly intertwined with Sudan’s ongoing civil war.
Analysts have warned that allegations of support from rival Sudanese factions for opposing groups inside Ethiopia risk turning the border region into another front in a broader regional power struggle.