Ethiopia's National Defence Force announced on Tuesday that its troops had repelled a series of attacks in the country's north‑eastern region, saying the assaults were thwarted before they could gain a foothold.
Scale of the latest clashes
The army said the fighting involved several armed groups that launched coordinated strikes on military outposts near the town of Dessie. While the statement did not disclose exact numbers, it claimed "heavy casualties" were inflicted on the attackers.
Our forces have neutralised the attackers and inflicted heavy casualties, the spokesperson added.
Local residents reported hearing gunfire and seeing smoke rise from the outskirts of the town late on Monday, prompting an influx of displaced families into nearby shelters.
How the attacks unfolded
According to the military, insurgents approached the bases under cover of darkness, attempting to breach perimeter fences before being met by defensive fire. The army's statement said its soldiers responded swiftly, using both small‑arms and artillery to halt the advance.
Humanitarian agencies on the ground said the clashes disrupted food deliveries and forced aid workers to suspend operations temporarily.
Official response and political fallout
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, speaking from Addis Ababa, called the incidents "a serious breach of the peace" and urged regional authorities to cooperate with federal forces. He pledged additional resources to secure the area and warned that any escalation would be met with "decisive action".
The opposition coalition, which includes parties from the Amhara and Oromia regions, condemned the army's language, accusing the federal government of inflaming tensions. An Amhara regional official declined to comment on the specific incident but reiterated calls for dialogue.
Background and risk of wider conflict
The latest skirmish comes after a fragile cease‑fire that ended the 2020‑2022 civil war between federal forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. While a peace deal was signed in November 2022, sporadic clashes have persisted in the northern and central highlands, particularly in the Amhara and Oromia regions where rival militias vie for control of contested territories.
Analysts note that Ethiopia's political landscape remains volatile ahead of the postponed national elections, now slated for early 2027. The postponement, coupled with lingering grievances over land ownership and ethnic federalism, has fuelled fears that isolated attacks could spiral into a broader civil war.International observers, including the African Union, have warned that renewed fighting could jeopardise the humanitarian aid programmes that are still delivering food and medical supplies to millions displaced by the earlier war.
What lies ahead
Security forces are reportedly bolstering patrols around Dessie and other strategic towns while diplomatic channels remain open. The United Nations has called for an urgent meeting of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council to assess the situation and explore options for de‑escalation.
For now, the army’s claim of repelling the attacks offers a temporary reprieve, but the spectre of a renewed nationwide conflict looms large as Ethiopia grapples with political uncertainty and deep‑seated ethnic divisions.
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