Afar Authorities Accuse Tigrayan Forces of Cross-Border Attacks in Violation of Pretoria Agreement
Addis Abeba, 6 November 2025 — By Staff Reporter
The Afar Regional State government has accused the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and affiliated forces of launching a cross-border assault into its territory, claiming that six villages were seized and civilians targeted in shelling attacks. The alleged incident marks the most serious confrontation between the two regions since the signing of the Pretoria Peace Agreement in November 2022.
According to a statement issued late Tuesday, the Afar regional administration alleged that on 5 November, TPLF fighters “crossed into Afar’s Zone Two, Magale Woreda, Tonsa Kebele specifically the War’a and Milki areas and opened heavy weapon fire on innocent Afar pastoralists around 7:00 p.m.” The statement accused the group of using mortars and ZU-23 anti-aircraft guns against civilians and described the attack as a “blatant violation” of the peace deal.
Regional authorities warned that the Afar government would be “forced to defend its citizens and territorial integrity” if hostilities continue, calling the attack “a provocation that threatens regional stability.”
As of the time of publication, Tigray’s regional administration had not issued a public response to the allegations.
Escalation Along a Fragile Border
The reported clashes come amid growing internal divisions within Tigray’s political and military structures and the emergence of splinter groups operating along the Afar–Tigray frontier.
In recent months, local and international observers have reported increased movement of armed actors in the area. In September, Human Rights First stated that twelve members of a group identifying itself as the Tigray Peace Forces (TPF) were detained in the Afar Region without trial. The organization urged regional authorities to either release or formally charge the detainees, warning of potential rights violations.
The detentions followed a series of reported rifts among Tigrayan military figures, including those who had broken away from the main Tigray Defense Forces (TDF) after political disputes within the interim administration led by former regional president Getachew Reda. Brigadier General Gebre-Egziabher Beyene, a former TDF commander, has claimed to lead “four divisions” operating across parts of Tigray and Afar.
A May 2025 Africa Intelligence report alleged that Addis Abeba had supported the creation of an armed opposition faction among Tigrayans based in Afar—a claim denied by the federal government. During a parliamentary session in July, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed reiterated that the government’s “intentions remain peaceful.”
Federal and Regional Reactions
Getachew Reda, now serving as Advisor to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on East African Affairs, accused elements within Tigray of attempting to provoke renewed conflict. “The backward group has carried out provocations through Afar to push the Federal Government into conflict,” he said, blaming “Shabi’a,” a term commonly used to refer to Eritrea’s government, for allegedly influencing the renewed hostilities.
Lt. Gen. Tadesse Werede, Interim President of Tigray, also addressed tensions earlier this month, asserting that “the free land is not inside Tigray; the free land is inside the Afar Regional State.” He called on Tigrayan fighters operating in Afar to return home and urged that “Tigray’s problems must be solved by Tigrayans within Tigray.”
Independent and Diplomatic Observations
An independent security brief issued by the Independent Regional & International Geostrategy Security group confirmed reports of clashes along the Afar–Tigray border. Citing diplomatic and humanitarian field sources, the brief stated that TPLF-aligned forces had captured several villages in Afar through “coordinated incursions and artillery shelling,” resulting in civilian displacement and infrastructure damage.
The report warned that the renewed hostilities “risk undermining confidence in the Pretoria Peace Framework” and could “reignite tensions reminiscent of the 2020–2022 war.” Diplomatic missions in Addis Abeba have reportedly expressed concern about the escalation and urged restraint from all sides.
The security group called on international actors—including the United Nations, African Union, IGAD, and the European Union—to closely monitor the situation, press for an immediate cessation of hostilities, and ensure independent verification of reported atrocities.
Humanitarian and Regional Concerns
Humanitarian organizations operating in northern Ethiopia have expressed concern about potential displacement and restricted access to conflict-affected zones. Several villages in Afar’s northern districts remain difficult to reach due to security risks, and local communities are reportedly fleeing toward desert areas seeking refuge.
Analysts warn that renewed fighting could destabilize the broader Horn of Africa, already affected by political volatility in Sudan, the Red Sea region, and Somalia.
As one diplomatic source told Addis Standard on condition of anonymity, “Any renewed confrontation between Afar and Tigray would not only endanger civilians but could reopen wounds that Ethiopia has not yet healed from.”
Editor’s Note:
This report will be updated as additional statements and verifications become available from both Afar and Tigray regional authorities, as well as from independent humanitarian and diplomatic observers.
