Foreign support for Ethiopian armed groups risks turning renewed fighting in Tigray into a regional war

Tigrayan forces seized three airports and clashed with Ethiopian federal troops on 23 September, signalling a major new offensive and further unravelling the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement. The participation of other alliance members remains unclear, while Ethiopia's allegation of Eritrean support is denied by Eritrea. The African Union urged Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt to refrain from actions that could undermine regional stability after diplomatic expulsions involving the three countries; allegations of foreign support for combatants remain unestablished.

Fighting between Ethiopian federal forces and Tigrayan forces in northern Ethiopia, including airstrikes and artillery fire, and its spillover into relations with Eritrea, Egypt and neighbouring states, raising fears of a wider regional war.