A week ago, as many Ethiopians were voting in the 21 June national elections, Abiy’s government launched what it called a final offensive against resistance forces in Tigray.
The Tigray conflict started in 2020 when the leaders of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, a party that was influential under the government of former premier Meles Zenawi, challenged Abiy’s authority and regional elections without Addis’ approval.
The plan was to announce a sweeping election victory for Abiy’s Prosperity Party and declare total victory in the Tigray region. With the Tigray Defence Forces (TDF) retaking Mekelle – the regional capital – on 28 June and federal forces retreating, the government in Addis Ababa will have to rethink, fast.
Hard choices
The losses in Tigray, along with international opprobrium that the military campaign has attracted, present the government with some hard choices; and
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