In Mekelle, the scars of war remain fresh, and now, a growing power struggle threatens to shatter the fragile peace that ended Ethiopia’s devastating Tigray conflict.
Residents of the war-battered city are gripped with fear, watching anxiously as political tensions escalate between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the region’s interim administration.
Despite businesses operating as usual and security forces keeping a low profile, the sense of unease is unmistakable. Flights to Addis Ababa are fully booked as some seek an escape, while others withdraw savings and stockpile essentials in preparation for the worst. “No one can handle another war,” says Tseganesh Kassa, a former combatant whose injuries serve as a daily reminder of the past.
The interim administration accuses factions within the TPLF of attempting to seize power by force, while some in the TPLF blame the administration for failing to support ex-fighters and resettle displaced civilians. The fate of contested territories once controlled by Tigray but now held by other regions remains a contentious issue, adding fuel to the fire.
Beyond Tigray, tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea continue to rise, with concerns that unresolved territorial disputes and Ethiopia’s push for sea access could trigger another war between the neighbors. Eritrean forces, accused of past atrocities in Tigray, are still present along the disputed border, further inflaming tensions.
In a Mekelle café, young people scroll through news updates, their faces reflecting both worry and exhaustion. “The youth are tired of violence,” says shoe-shiner Tesfay Gebreabgzi. “During the civil war, many wanted to fight. Now, there’s only fatigue.”
The people of Tigray have yet to recover from the horrors of war, and with political instability deepening, the fear of another devastating conflict looms large
