The French foreign ministry warned citizens against traveling to Tigray, Ethiopia, following internal conflicts. The ministry urged those in the region to depart quickly due to ongoing violence. Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea are tense, with fears of potential conflict due to various geopolitical factors. The situation in Tigray reflects deepening unrest and power struggles within the TPLF.
The French foreign ministry has advised its citizens to avoid traveling to Tigray, Ethiopia, citing ongoing internal unrest, particularly in the cities of Mekele and Adigrat. “In view of the ongoing internal clashes in Tigray, travel throughout the region is now formally inadvisable,” the ministry stated on its official website. Additionally, it urged French nationals currently in Tigray to depart as soon as possible.
From November 2020 to November 2022, Tigray was a significant conflict zone involving federal forces, local militias, Eritrean troops, and Tigrayan rebels, resulting in an estimated 600,000 fatalities according to the African Union. A peace agreement was established in Pretoria, South Africa, which included the formation of an interim administration for Tigray pending future elections. However, implementation delays have led to internal strife within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), with Getachew Reda and Debretsion Gebremichael vying for control.
Amidst increasing instability, concerns are mounting regarding a potential invasion by Eritrea, Ethiopia’s historic rival. Kjetil Tronvoll, a professor at Oslo University, noted, “We have been close to a new conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia for the past two years.” He underscored various geopolitical factors, including dissatisfaction with the peace agreement and Ethiopia’s pursuit of port access on the Red Sea, which may exacerbate tensions.
Abiy Ahmed, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for reaching the peace agreement with Eritrea in 2018, has seen relations deteriorate since the end of the Tigray war in 2022. General Tsadkan Gebretensae remarked, “A war between Ethiopia and Eritrea could break out at any moment.” The evolving situation remains perilous, underscoring the complexity of the regional dynamics.
The French foreign ministry’s recent warning highlights the escalating tensions in Tigray, Ethiopia, amid ongoing civil unrest and power struggles within the TPLF. With the region’s violent history and the potential for Eritrean involvement, the situation remains precarious. Observers are concerned that shifts in geopolitical dynamics could trigger further conflict. The call for French nationals to leave embodies the seriousness of the current circumstances in Tigray.
Original Source: www.rfi.fr
