Ethiopian authorities, with the assistance of the local military, have succeeded in taking control of the Tigray region in the north of the country. This follows the surrender and removal from the area of rebel groups operating under the banner of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF)—groups that had threatened to topple the government in Addis Ababa.
Beyond this defeat, the TPLF—formerly the dominant ruling party in Ethiopia—is now facing a wave of outrage from its own former supporters in the northern region. For many in Tigray, the TPLF’s recent alliance with Eritrea has revived painful, traumatic memories of the atrocities committed by Eritrean forces during the previous conflict in the area.
In this context, a local resident told French media that the TPLF’s cooperation with Eritrean forces was a grave error, stating: “They carried out massacres and sexual violence against the people of Tigray.” She further noted that the Front has lost support both within the region and among Tigrayans living abroad, stating: “The party has become detached from the people.”
It all began in late September, when the Front joined other armed groups in a large-scale offensive aimed at toppling Ethiopia’s federal leadership—foremost among them Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. However, the offensive was swiftly repelled by pro-government forces, which made extensive use of drones against the rebels. Forced to retreat from major cities in Tigray, the Front withdrew to the region’s highlands; from there, it now occasionally launches attacks against federal forces—though with little significant success.