Key facts
- New alliance of armed groups in Tigray is forcibly recruiting men and boys aged 15 to 65.
- Renewed conflict between Ethiopia's federal government and TPLF began September 23.
- Eritrean Defence Forces and Amhara militias are now fighting in support of the TPLF.
- TPLF authorities are rounding up people from streets for forced recruitment.
- Ethiopian Airlines suspended flights to Tigray after TPLF seized Mekelle airport.
- Bank accounts in Tigray were frozen, with a daily withdrawal limit of 2,000 birr.
Renewed fighting in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region has led to reports of forced recruitment by a new alliance of armed groups, including the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), Eritrean Defence Forces, and Amhara militias. The conflict, which reignited on September 23, shattered the fragile Pretoria peace agreement signed in November 2022.
Witnesses described a broad campaign of forced recruitment targeting men and boys between the ages of 15 and 65. Gezu, a survivor of the 2020-22 war, refused to rejoin the TPLF forces and recounted how authorities began rounding up people from the streets when voluntary enlistment failed. Many Tigrayans with the means to leave had already fled to the capital, Addis Ababa, fearing the outbreak of war.
Solomon, who fled to Addis Ababa, stated that the TPLF primarily targets individuals between 15 and 40 years old, forcibly recruiting them at gunpoint. He noted that even those with medical conditions are conscripted if they are able-bodied. Ephrem, a father of three, expressed his family's anxiety over his potential conscription, highlighting that wealthier individuals can bribe officers to avoid recruitment.
The Tigray region has been under siege for the past week, with the federal government freezing citizens' bank accounts. Banks have since reopened with a daily withdrawal limit of 2,000 birr (£9), leading to long queues. Internet and phone communications were also cut off by the TPLF until this week. The Ethiopian government has been accused of indiscriminate drone airstrikes, while opposition forces have reportedly advanced close to Addis Ababa. An estimated 300,000 to 800,000 civilians died during the previous Tigray conflict, with the UN and human rights groups documenting war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by various factions.