The leader of Ethiopia’s Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), Debretsion Gebremichael, has warned that the conflict in the northern region remains unresolved, vowing continued resistance against federal forces despite recent military setbacks.
In a message broadcast on Tigrayan television on Wednesday, Debretsion insisted that Tigray was still at war and declared that the region would “remain a graveyard for its enemies.”
He also claimed that TPLF fighters had recorded tactical victories in recent clashes, including fighting in northern and central Tigray last week, during which he alleged that hundreds of federal soldiers were neutralised.
The claims could not be independently verified.
The declaration comes amid renewed military pressure on the TPLF, following the recapture of the regional capital, Mekelle, by Ethiopian federal forces earlier this month after rebel fighters withdrew from the city.
The latest developments have raised concerns about the possibility of further escalation in a region still grappling with the consequences of previous fighting and unresolved political tensions.
Analysts have warned that the Ethiopian army’s advance in Tigray could also heighten the risk of a wider confrontation with neighbouring Eritrea, adding another layer of uncertainty to the security situation in the Horn of Africa.
Violence has continued alongside the military developments. A drone strike killed four people in southern Tigray earlier this week, according to reports.
Other drone strikes have targeted civilians and a school in the neighbouring Amhara region, where Ethiopian government forces are battling Fano militants.
The renewed violence highlights the broader security challenges facing Ethiopia, where conflicts involving federal forces and armed groups in different regions have continued to threaten civilian safety and stability.
Debretsion’s latest remarks suggest that the TPLF leadership has no intention of conceding defeat, even as federal forces seek to consolidate their position in Tigray.
The situation remains fluid, with the potential for further clashes raising fears of renewed instability in northern Ethiopia and possible regional repercussions.
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