Tigray clashes send hundreds fleeing to Sudan, raising civil war fears
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Hundreds of residents from Ethiopia’s Tigray region crossed into Sudan over the weekend after intense clashes erupted between Tigray forces and the Ethiopian army in the western town of Shererina. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and federal authorities traded blame for the violence, which involved heavy artillery and drones, while casualties remain unclear. The flare-up raises fears of a return to full-scale civil war, even as the African Union-brokered 2022 peace accord remains partially implemented.
Fighting Erupts in Shererina
Clashes began Saturday morning in Shererina, a town in western Tigray near the Sudan border, and continued through Sunday. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) said the fighting involved heavy artillery and drone strikes. Witnesses reported hearing explosions, heavy gunfire, and aircraft throughout the day. Hundreds of civilians and wounded fighters fled across the border into Sudan, according to Sudanese medical and local sources. The death toll from the weekend’s violence has not yet been confirmed.
Mutual Recriminations
The TPLF-led regional administration accused the federal government of launching an “open war” that violated the 2022 peace agreement and aimed to “subjugate and divide” Tigray. Federal minister Abraham Belay confirmed the clashes occurred but blamed the “TPLF clique” for starting them, warning of “worse consequences” if fighting persisted. He also called for dialogue, stating that disputes should be resolved through peaceful negotiations. Neither side has indicated a willingness to halt military operations.
Fear of Wider Conflict
The 2022 African Union-brokered peace deal ended a two-year civil war that killed hundreds of thousands, but its implementation remains incomplete. The TPLF regained control of Tigray after ousting the interim administration created under the accord. The western Tigray area, where Shererina is located, remains disputed between Tigray and the neighboring Amhara region. Observers also warn the fighting could become entangled with Sudan’s civil war, as both Sudanese factions are accused of backing opposing sides in Ethiopia.
What's Next
The African Union and international partners are likely to urge both sides to de-escalate, but no immediate talks have been scheduled. It remains unclear whether the weekend’s violence will spiral into a broader conflict, as the peace agreement remains fragile and regional dynamics grow more complex.
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Tigray clashes send hundreds fleeing to Sudan, raising civil war fears
