Hundreds of civilians from Ethiopia’s Tigray region have fled into neighboring Sudan after renewed fighting broke out between the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), raising fears of a return to large-scale conflict in northern Ethiopia. The clashes began on Saturday in Shererina, a strategically important area near the Sudanese border, and continued into Sunday. Local sources reported the use of heavy artillery, drones, and sustained gunfire, forcing civilians and wounded fighters to cross into Sudan in search of safety. The latest violence marks one of the most serious confrontations since the 2022 Pretoria Peace Agreement, brokered by the African Union, ended the devastating two-year civil war between the Ethiopian federal government and the TPLF. The conflict, which lasted from 2020 to 2022, claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, displaced millions, and triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Both sides have traded blame for the renewed fighting. The TPLF-led regional administration accused the federal government of launching an “open war” in Shererina, alleging the offensive violated the peace agreement and was intended to undermine Tigray’s autonomy. The Ethiopian federal government has yet to issue a formal statement, but Minister Abraham Belay acknowledged that fighting had taken place. In a social media post, he accused what he described as the “TPLF clique” of initiating the clashes and warned of “worse consequences” if hostilities continued. He also appealed for dialogue, urging all parties to resolve their differences through peaceful negotiations. While the number of casualties remains unclear, Sudanese medical officials and local sources reported receiving civilians and injured combatants fleeing across the border. Witnesses described hearing explosions, heavy artillery fire, and aircraft operating throughout the weekend.
The renewed violence has heightened concerns over the fragile peace process, particularly as key provisions of the Pretoria Agreement including security arrangements and political reforms remain only partially implemented. Analysts also warn that the fighting could become entangled with the ongoing conflict in neighboring Sudan, amid allegations that rival factions in Sudan’s civil war are backing opposing groups in Ethiopia. Such a development could further destabilize the Horn of Africa and the wider region. Shererina lies in Western Tigray, a territory long disputed between the Tigray and Amhara regions, making it one of the most politically and militarily sensitive areas in Ethiopia.
