Addis ababa, July 30, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s hard-won peace is facing a serious test from the return of a destructive political agenda that once pushed the country into a devastating conflict. The defunct TPLF group, whose actions triggered the northern war in November 2020, is again pursuing a confrontational path that threatens stability and undermines the sacrifices made for peace.
The Ethiopian people have not forgotten the consequences of the TPLF’s decades-long political dominance, including the 1998 Ethio-Eritrea war and the November 2020 attack on the Northern Command of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces — the force that protected the country’s northern frontier for more than two decades after the Ethio-Eritrea war. For the people of Tigray region, the group’s rule has been marked by political control, hardship, and suffering, with its political interests placed above the wellbeing of ordinary citizens.
The Northern Command attack plunged Ethiopia into a devastating conflict that caused immense suffering, displacement, and destruction. The Pretoria Peace Agreement, signed on November 2, 2022, and facilitated by the African Union and international partners, created a historic opportunity to end hostilities and build lasting peace.
The federal government’s unwavering commitment to peace played a critical role in ending the conflict. Since then, it has consistently prioritized dialogue and peaceful engagement, with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his government repeatedly calling on the TPLF rump group to resolve differences through peaceful political dialogue. Despite having the constitutional responsibility and legal authority to enforce law when necessary, the government has continued to place peace, reconciliation, and stability above confrontation.
While Ethiopia advances lasting peace through the National Dialogue process involving representatives from across the country, the TPLF rump group has chosen a contrary path by challenging the law of the land, the Pretoria Agreement, and the legally established Tigray Interim Regional Administration. Its renewed mobilization efforts, confrontational rhetoric, and reported attempts to build alliances with armed groups have raised concerns over a return to instability.
Human Rights Watch reports regarding forced recruitment and coercive practices in Tigray have further highlighted the dangers of renewed militarization in a region that has already endured immense suffering.
The international community must recognize the importance of protecting Ethiopia’s peace. The United States’ targeted visa restrictions on individuals linked to the TPLF reflected concerns over actions Washington said were undermining peace efforts and the implementation of the Pretoria Agreement.
Ethiopia cannot afford another cycle of destruction. The people of northern Ethiopia deserve stability, development, and a future free from conflict. While the country is choosing dialogue, reconciliation, and peace, any attempt to revive war politics risks reopening wounds that Ethiopia has worked hard to heal.
The international community should support efforts to preserve peace and reject any attempt to drag Ethiopia back into another devastating conflict.