Will Peace Hold in Ethiopia?
Ethiopia, the second most populous country in Africa with a population of over 123 million, has been embroiled in a civil war with armed forces from the Tigray region since November of 2020. The war has had devastating effects on the civilian population, including millions of people displaced from their homes, tens of thousands killed, and widespread hunger and human rights abuses including pervasive sexual violence.
Last week representatives of Ethiopia's government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) announced a ceasefire, raising hopes that the civil war that has been raging in northern Ethiopia for two years might be coming to an end. Instability in Ethiopia has significant implications for international security as both Ethiopia and the larger region of the Horn of Africa are of considerable strategic importance.
This is an excellent description of the history and context of the Tigray War from the Council on Foreign Relations.
"War in Ethiopia" - Council on Foreign Relations
"The conflict in Tigray has security implications for the entire Horn of Africa, a region in which the United States has stakes in countering violent extremism, supporting democratic transition, negotiating resource sharing efforts, and guaranteeing refugee flow management."
https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/conflict-ethiopia
The International Crisis Group recently published an informative podcast on the prospects for peace in Ethiopia and next steps.
"Ethiopia's Tigray War: After the Cessation of Hostilities, What Next?" - International Crisis Group
