Borkena News Desk
Toronto, Canada — It has been almost a month since the United States announced a visa sanction regime against what it described as “hardliner” TPLF leaders for “undermining resolution to the crisis in the Tigray region.”
The decision followed TPLF actions related to the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA), which ended the bloody conflict between the TPLF-led Tigray regional state and the Abiy Ahmed-led federal government. The war lasted from November 2020 to November 2022. It is said to have claimed well over 600,000 lives.
The United States played a key role in “supporting” the Pretoria peace process, although the African Union formally led the process.
The U.S. seems to have concerns that a renewed conflict in northern Ethiopia could spill over into other parts of the region and negatively affect U.S. geopolitical and security interests in the Horn of Africa. The European Union has a similar assessment that if war breaks out again it will after the entire Horn of Africa.
The U.S. continues to work to avert another war in the region. U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia Ervin Massinga travelled to the Tigray region this week. A brief press release that Borkena received from the U.S. Embassy said the ambassador held discussions with political and civil society leaders from the region. “Lasting peace” was one of the key issues discussed.
In that context, the embassy appeared to emphasize “the urgent need for dialogue and the full implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA).” The embassy appears to have delayed the release of the statement, with the press release likely issued after the ambassador returned to Addis Ababa.
On the other hand, sources in the Tigray region reported that Debretsion Gebremichael, the TPLF leader who returned to the regional presidency after the reinstatement of the regional council, avoided meeting with the ambassador.
The regional council had previously been dissolved under provisions of the CoHA. The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia did not recognize the election that originally produced the council.
Another key development during the ambassador’s visit was the reported house arrest of Tadesse Worede, the president of Tigray’s Interim Administration. His term in office was recently extended by one year.
According to reports from the region, the TPLF prevented Tadesse from meeting the U.S. ambassador in person while he was under house arrest. Credible sources in the region told Borkena that the ambassador spoke with Tadesse by phone for about 20 minutes. The U.S. Embassy’s statement did not mention these developments.
On Thursday, the U.S. Embassy released another press statement, a copy of which Borkena received, indicating that Ambassador Massinga had travelled to Gondar in the Amhara region of Ethiopia for a working visit.
The embassy said the visit aimed “to promote commercial diplomacy, emphasize the importance of peace and stability, and ensure U.S. foreign assistance delivers measurable results.” The ambassador met with senior local and regional officials.
Again, the embassy emphasized “stability,” describing it as essential “for expanding U.S.-Ethiopian trade and creating an open, predictable business environment.”
The TPLF maintains territorial claims in the Amhara region, particularly over Wolkait and Raya. The two areas were previously associated with Gondar and Wollo provinces, respectively, before they became part of the Tigray region under Ethiopia’s ethnic-based federal arrangement.
Identity movements were simmering in these two areas for decades which came to the surface after the TPLF allegedly started war in November 2020 by attacking the Northern Command of the Ethiopian Defense Force. Residents, with the support of Amhara regional forces, have sought to assert an Amhara identity and affiliation with the Amhara region. The issue remains a contentious matter between the TPLF and Amhara forces.
The status of the two areas has also become part of the disagreement over the implementation of the CoHA. The TPLF has argued that the agreement’s reference to “respecting the constitution” requires the status of the areas to be addressed within the constitutional framework.
The U.S. government has not disclosed whether Ambassador Massinga discussed the territorial issue during his meetings with Amhara regional officials. However, there is speculation that the issue may have been discussed in light of growing concerns over the possibility of renewed conflict in northern Ethiopia.
Another notable development involves shifting alliances.
During the bloody 2020–2022 war, the Eritrean government and Fano forces in the Amhara region fought against the TPLF. The conflict generated competing allegations of the parties involved, including claims of genocide and other serious violations.
The current regional dynamics appear to have changed. Eritrea is now widely viewed as having closer relations with TPLF leaders. Some analysts and regional sources also believe that Eritrea maintains significant military and political influence over senior TPLF figures, including some of those the U.S. government described as “hardliners.”
Fano forces are also believed to have joined an alliance known as Ximdo, although they have not explicitly confirmed their involvement.
The government of Sudanese military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan is also alleged to have relations with the TPLF and Eritrea as the broader regional tensions involving Ethiopia grow. Egypt’s role in the region, as a geopolitical rival, remains another issue of concern for Ethiopia.
It remains to be seen whether the U.S. government’s efforts to “avert war” in the region will bear fruit.
What is clear is that reports from the Tigray region continue to raise concerns over the possibility of renewed conflict.
Meanwhile, some former senior TPLF officials who parted ways with the organization after the Pretoria Agreement, including Getachew Reda, Kindeya Gebrehiwot, and former TPLF member General Tsadkan Gebretensae, have organized a protest in Addis Ababa for Saturday.
The protesters are expected to demand that Abiy Ahmed’s government “take action against the TPLF.”
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Once again we should all be ever thankful to Brother H.E. Ambassador Massinga for his continuous and tireless effort to bring peace to that country. In this case his blessed effort is being hindered by deacons of Marx/Lenin/Mao who are hell-bent on violent means to solve the issues lingering out there. Their only scripture is the demonic ‘dialectical materialism’ which advocates that all internal issues be it political or economic should be solved by violent means. It is the philosophy and guidance of mad men with sick minds. These rabble rousing commies are everywhere in that country. They are now itching to trigger another deadly and destruction war. The final solution is in the hands of those upright people of Tigray. They should rise up in unison and show these commies the door. Don’t start with me about commies.
Right on Brother!