In late November, only weeks after launching the initial military action in Tigray, Prime Minister Abiy announced that the operation had been a success. The TPLF was removed from power and its leaders retreated into hiding in the mountainous hinterlands of Tigray, while forces loyal to Abiy were put in charge of the region. In June, however, a sudden TPLF resurgence killed or captured thousands of federal troops and sent the rest of them into retreat. While Abiy labeled his military’s withdrawal as a “unilateral ceasefire,” it became clear that Tigrayan forces had pushed out the federal troops and retaken most of Tigray for the TPLF.

Now, the fighting is expanding beyond Tigray to other regions such as Amhara and Afar; Al Jazeera reports that regional ethnic militia are being mobilized to fight alongside federal troops or, in the case of the Amhara, to occupy land in Tigray that they believe rightfully belongs to the Amhara people instead. The TPLF, in turn, has launched strikes into both Amhara and Afar regions in recent weeks.

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