Tens of thousands of Oromo gathered in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, on Saturday to celebrate Irreecha, the annual thanksgiving festival, amid renewed fears of conflict in the country’s north.
The celebration came as reports emerged that federal forces had entered Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region, following renewed fighting between government forces and Tigrayan fighters.
Participants at the festival used the occasion to call for an end to the violence and urged the government and armed groups to prioritise peace.
“Even though peace has been disturbed in the past years, the Oromo are now celebrating Irreecha beautifully, but there are wars in various places,” student Simert Ababa said.
“I say that needs to be stabilised as much as possible, and this government has a role in that. Children should not miss their education, mothers should not be harmed, children should not be harmed.”
Concerns over a renewed confrontation between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) have intensified in recent weeks. Fighting reportedly erupted 10 days ago after Tigrayan forces launched attacks in neighbouring states.
Another student, Bilise Mohammed, called on the parties to reach an agreement to end the fighting.
“For those in the north, create an agreement so the war stops,” Mohammed said. “To the government and to those who are fighting, peace comes first. The people are the ones that are dying.”
Tigrayan forces have reportedly withdrawn from Mekelle, although their leader has suggested that they could continue guerrilla-style attacks, similar to those launched after government forces captured the city in 2020.
Merchant Carra Mekonen also called for peace and greater freedom of movement across the country.
“I want everyone to agree, whether in Ethiopia or Oromia. I want us to live freely everywhere, regardless of the borders, from Wollega in Oromia to Tigray and the Amhara region, so that we can go about our business as usual,” Mekonen said.
The renewed fighting has also strained Ethiopia’s relations with neighbouring Eritrea and Egypt, which Addis Ababa has accused of supporting the rebels.
Ethiopia expelled 10 Eritrean diplomats and closed its embassy in Asmara on Thursday. Eritrea responded by saying it would “sever all diplomatic ties.”
Eritrea has accused Ethiopia of planning to invade the country and seize access to its coastline. TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael said in a video message that the conflict was regional and linked to control of the Red Sea.
Ethiopia also expelled an Egyptian diplomat without giving a reason, prompting Cairo to take a reciprocal measure.
The TPLF dominated Ethiopia’s political system from 1991 until 2018, when it was sidelined following the rise of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who comes from the Oromia region.
Tensions between Tigray and the federal government escalated into a devastating civil war in 2020. The two-year conflict killed more than 600,000 people, according to estimates.
A peace agreement reached in 2022 brought an uneasy calm, but key elements of the deal remained only partially implemented, leaving tensions between the federal government and Tigrayan authorities unresolved.
