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Ethiopia's Abiy names new Tigray government, wants polls in six months
Reuters • • world
Key Points:
- Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has appointed a caretaker government for the northern Tigray region to stabilize the area and organize elections within six months following renewed conflict with the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).
- The TPLF launched an offensive last month, reigniting a war that previously caused hundreds of thousands of deaths between 2020-22, with Ethiopia's military and pro-government militias regaining control over large parts of Tigray, including the regional capital Mekelle.
- The caretaker administration aims to create a stable political environment, repair infrastructure, and assist displaced people in returning home amid ongoing humanitarian challenges, including famine and drought affecting the region.
- Ethiopia has severed ties with Eritrea, accusing it of supporting the TPLF rebels, a claim Eritrea denies; Ethiopia also accuses Egypt and Sudan of backing the rebels, which these countries have denied.
- The conflict raises concerns about regional instability in the Horn of Africa, where multiple powers are competing for influence amid fragile political conditions.
