Ethiopia and Tigray accuse each of launching offensives, fuelling fears of new war

On Tuesday, a strike in the southern town of Alamata killed at least 14 people and injured 22 others, according to the Tigrayan authorities.

The town’s mayor, Mogos Shiferaw, told the BBC that more than five drones and one fighter jet had carried out more than 21 strikes starting at around 03:30.

“This caused a lot of psychological trauma in our city and our people were in a state of panic,” he said.

Mogos said all those killed and injured were civilians, accusing federal forces of targeting two secondary schools.

He believed they were struck on suspicion that they were being used by Tigrayan forces.

But the mayor said the schools, which had served as federal military bases during the civil war, were unoccupied as the academic year had not yet begun.

The BBC has not independently verified the allegations and the government has not commented on the alleged strikes.

On Wednesday, the Tigray authorities accused Addis Ababa of launching an “open invasion” of the region, urging people to support the regional forces and maintain unity.

It further accused the government of violating international humanitarian and human rights laws, saying public services and critical infrastructure had been disrupted.

Meanwhile, the US State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs has condemned a separate drone strike that it said took place on Monday, targeting a convoy of Catholic vehicles carrying food aid.

It called for an investigation and urged all parties to resolve their differences through dialogue and take steps to prevent similar incidents.

Both Addis Ababa and TPLF leaders have faced criticism over delays in implementing key provisions of the Pretoria Agreement, the AU-brokered deal that formally ended the conflict in November 2022.

In July, Prime Minister Abiy accused the TPLF of preparing for renewed conflict during an address to parliament.

Just before the general election in May, which was not held in Tigray because of the security situation, the TPLF restored its pre-war administration, disbanding an interim one appointed by Abiy.

There have also been reports that the TPLF has been forcibly recruiting young men to join its forces.