France Warns Citizens Against Traveling to Tigray Amid Rising Conflict

France’s foreign ministry has warned citizens to avoid traveling to Tigray, Ethiopia, due to ongoing internal clashes between TPLF factions. The warning follows a history of conflict in the region that resulted in over 600,000 deaths. Tensions persist, with fears of external threats from Eritrea, leading experts to speculate about potential resumption of hostilities between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

On Thursday, France’s foreign ministry issued a warning to its citizens against traveling to Tigray, a region in northern Ethiopia, due to recent violent clashes between factions of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). The ministry’s website stated, “In view of the ongoing internal clashes in Tigray, particularly in Adigrat and Mekele, travel throughout the Tigray region is now formally inadvisable.” French nationals currently in Tigray are urged to depart as soon as possible.

From November 2020 to November 2022, Tigray was embroiled in a conflict involving federal forces, local militias, the Eritrean army, and Tigrayan rebels, resulting in an estimated death toll of over 600,000 as reported by the African Union. A peace agreement reached in Pretoria, South Africa, included provisions for an interim administration in Tigray until elections occur.

Despite the accord, implementation delays have led to heightened tensions within the TPLF, particularly between factions led by Getachew Reda and Debretsion Gebremichael. Getachew, entrusted with overseeing the interim administration, has recently suspended three generals of the Tigray Defence Forces, citing threats of a takeover from the opposing faction.

There is a rising concern that Eritrea could exploit the deteriorating situation in Tigray to instigate an invasion. Kjetil Tronvoll, a specialist from Oslo University, remarked, “We have been close to a new conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia for the past two years. We just do not know what will be the triggering factor.” The tensions are exacerbated by Eritrea’s President Isaias Afwerki’s dissatisfaction with the 2022 peace agreement and Ethiopia’s ambitions concerning the Red Sea.

General Tsadkan Gebretensae warned earlier this week that “a war between Ethiopia and Eritrea could break out at any moment,” highlighting the fragility of the current situation. Abiy Ahmed, lauded for achieving the previous peace agreement with Eritrea in 2018, now faces escalating risks as relations between the two nations remain strained post-conflict in Tigray.

In conclusion, the French foreign ministry’s advisory against travel to Tigray highlights the current instability in the region due to internal conflicts and potential external threats from Eritrea. As Tigray navigates these conflicts, the implications for regional stability remain severe, with experts suggesting the possibility of renewed warfare between Ethiopia and Eritrea. French citizens are strongly encouraged to prioritize their safety and leave Tigray promptly.

Original Source: www.rfi.fr