Residents of Alamata, a city located on the border between Ethiopia's Tigray and Amhara regions, have expressed growing fears of renewed fighting due to an increased military presence. Alamata, a key area contested since the Tigray War, came under control of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) earlier this year after Ethiopian federal troops withdrew.

One resident, speaking anonymously for safety reasons, stated, "The TPLF forces have deployed many troops on the Raya front and have been instructed to be ready for war." Another resident, Ato Gebru TsefaEzigi, told Deutsche Welle, "In most areas of the city, you can only see soldiers."

Alamata serves as the central hub of the Raya valley, which includes districts in both the Tigray and Amhara regions. On August 2, the regional government in Tigray announced that its forces had repelled an "open military offensive against the Tigray Security Forces in the vicinity of Shererina, Western Tigray" by Ethiopian federal forces.

Conversely, Ethiopian media reported that Abraham Belay, the federal Minister of Irrigation and Lowland Areas, acknowledged clashes in western Tigray but blamed the TPLF for initiating them.

Amnesty International's Horn of Africa campaigner, Suad Nur, called for increased access, stating, "We are also calling for access for human rights observers, investigators, and journalists to Tigray and to all regions impacted by the conflict in Ethiopia," emphasizing the importance of scrutiny to prevent crimes and unchecked hostilities.

These developments have sparked fears that the fragile peace established after the 2020–2022 Tigray War could deteriorate.

Sources