Northern Ethiopia’s shifting alliances explained
Summary
The conflict in northern Ethiopia involves changing alliances between the Ethiopian federal government, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), Eritrea, and Amhara militias called Fano. Recently, Ethiopia’s government has accused its former allies, Eritrea and Fano, of supporting the TPLF against it, while the TPLF denies these claims, and Eritrea rejects accusations of involvement.Key Facts
- From 2020 to 2022, the TPLF fought against Ethiopia’s federal government and its allies Eritrea and Fano militias.
- In early 2025, Tigray Defence Forces seized control of key towns including Mekele and parts of the Eritrean border.
- Ethiopia’s government accuses Eritrea and the TPLF of supporting Fano militias in attacks on the Amhara region.
- Fano is an irregular militia group from the Amhara region with no central leadership, initially allied with the government against the TPLF.
- Ethiopia’s government claims Eritrean forces stayed in Ethiopia despite peace agreements requiring withdrawal.
- Eritrea denies involvement in the conflict and rejects accusations of war crimes or support for militias.
- The TPLF denies Ethiopia’s accusations and says the federal government is destabilizing Tigray by training new militias.
- The conflict reflects shifting and complex alliances among Ethiopia’s political and ethnic groups and neighboring Eritrea.
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