Ethiopia and Tigray accuse each of launching offensives, fuelling fears of new war

Fonte da imagem, AFP via Getty Images. Legenda da imagem, combatentes do TPLF patrulhavam as ruas de Mekelle na quarta-feira.

1. Published23 September 2026, 12:42 BST.
2. Seven Ethiopian rebel groups form new alliancePublished2 days ago.
3. Ethiopia PM's party wins landslide as fears grow of new conflict.
4. I lost my leg on the way home from school.

As jovens mulheres que lutaram na última guerra civil da Etiópia e não querem ver outra Publicado em 6 de março.

A Etiópia está voltando à guerra em Tigray.

Ethiopia's government and the party in control of the northern region of Tigray have accused each other of launching offensives, escalating fears of a return to full-scale conflict.

Getachew Reda, ministro do gabinete e assessor do primeiro‑ministro da Etiópia, afirmou que combatentes tigrianos haviam tomado o controle de aeroportos administrados federalmente em Tigray e lançaram ofensivas nas regiões vizinhas de Afar e Amhara.

Anteriormente, as autoridades tigrines afirmaram que suas forças foram forçadas a entrar em uma “guerra defensiva”. A declaração veio após relatos de ataques aéreos de drones em Tigray.

The two-year war in Tigray ended in 2022 - but over recent months both sides have been accusing each other of violating a peace deal.

It was one of the most deadly conflicts this century - the African Union's mediator estimated some 600,000 people died as the fighting drove the region to the precipice of famine.

No domingo, o Front de Libertação Popular do Tigre (TPLF), o partido que governa o Tigre, anunciou uma aliança com seis outros grupos armados na Etiópia para remover o governo em Addis Ababa.

It is rather heartbreaking to learn that, despite efforts by many, including the international community, to avoid yet another round of war in Tigray, the TPLF leadership early this morning launched an all-out offensive against government positions in Afar and Amhara," Getachew said in a statement shared on social media.

The adviser to Prime Minster Abiy Ahmed previously led Tigray's interim administration, but he fell out with the TPLF in 2025 and joined the federal government.

Following the seizure of the airports, Ethiopian Airlines has cancelled all flights to Tigray.

Os residentes da cidade principal de Tigray, Mekelle, disseram à BBC que as forças locais haviam assumido o controle do aeroporto da cidade da polícia nacional no início de quarta-feira.

This followed reports of drone strikes in Tigray in recent days.

The chairperson of the Africa Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has called for an "immediate de-escalation" and for both sides to resume talks.

O embaixador dos EUA na Etiópia condenou o TPLF por ter tomado a “má decisão de lançar uma ofensiva em grande escala”, descrevendo‑a como uma “batalha sem chance de vitória”.

On Tuesday, a strike in the southern town of Alamata killed at least 14 people and injured 22 others, according to the Tigrayan authorities.

The town's mayor, Mogos Shiferaw, told the BBC that more than five drones and one fighter jet had carried out more than 21 strikes starting at around 03:30.

Isso causou muito trauma psicológico em nossa cidade e nosso povo estava em estado de pânico," ele disse.

Mogos disse que todos os mortos e feridos eram civis, acusando as forças federais de ter atacado duas escolas secundárias.

He believed they were struck on suspicion that they were being used by Tigrayan forces.

But the mayor said the schools, which had served as federal military bases during the civil war, were unoccupied as the academic year had not yet begun.

A BBC não verificou de forma independente as alegações e o governo não comentou as supostas greves.

On Wednesday, the Tigray authorities accused Addis Ababa of launching an "open invasion" of the region, urging people to support the regional forces and maintain unity.

It further accused the government of violating international humanitarian and human rights laws, saying public services and critical infrastructure had been disrupted.

Enquanto isso, o Bureau of African Affairs do Departamento de Estado dos EUA condenou um ataque de drone separado que, segundo ele, ocorreu na segunda-feira, visando um convôio de veículos católicos transportando ajuda alimentar.

It called for an investigation and urged all parties to resolve their differences through dialogue and take steps to prevent similar incidents.

Both Addis Ababa and TPLF leaders have faced criticism over delays in implementing key provisions of the Pretoria Agreement, the AU-brokered deal that formally ended the conflict in November 2022.

Em julho, o Primeiro-Ministro Abiy acusou o TPLF de se preparar para um novo conflito durante um discurso ao parlamento.

Just before the general election in May, which was not held in Tigray because of the security situation, the TPLF restored its pre-war administration, disbanding an interim one appointed by Abiy.

Também houve relatos de que o TPLF tem recrutado forçosamente jovens para se juntarem às suas forças.

Go to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent.