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A dissident faction of the main political party in Ethiopia’s northern region of Tigray has seized control of key offices and a radio station in the regional capital, Mekelle, amid growing fears of a fresh conflict.<\/p>\n
It follows a deepening power struggle within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which has raised concerns of a return to civil war.<\/p>\n
One Mekelle resident told the BBC that people were withdrawing money from their bank accounts, fearing the security situation could deteriorate.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, the same faction took control of Adigrat, Tigray’s second-largest city.<\/p>\n
Getachew Reda, president of Tigray’s interim administration, has accused the rival group, led by Debretsion Gebremichael, of attempting to forcefully remove him from office.<\/p>\n
Getachew became Tigray’s leader following a 2022 peace deal which ended two years of conflict in the region, which killed an estimated 500,000 people.<\/p>\n
Debretsion Gebremichael was previously the region’s leader but over the past year, relations have sourced with the man who replaced him.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, members of Debretsion’s faction accompanied by armed soldiers took control of Mekelle FM radio station and the mayor’s office in the city.<\/p>\n
Gunshots were heard on Wednesday night in Adi-Gudem, a town near Mekelle, when forces from the dissident faction attempted to occupy a government building.<\/p>\n
The forces reportedly arrested the town’s mayor and took control of the office.<\/p>\n
Getachew has suspended three generals of the Tigray Defence Forces, accusing the rival faction of trying to destabilise the region.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Getachew asked the Ethiopian government to “provide necessary assistance”, without specifying the kind of support.<\/p>\n
He is currently in the country’s capital Addis Ababa for “consultations with the federal authorities” but he told the BBC that he intends to return to Tigray.<\/p>\n
Federal authorities in Ethiopia have not yet commented.<\/p>\n
In a press statement on Thursday, Getachew accused his rivals of colluding with neighbouring Eritrea, which was involved in Tigray’s civil war and has a fractious relationship with Ethiopia’s government.<\/p>\n
“We have reason to believe external actors are involved,” he said, accusing Eritrea of being among those who think “they would benefit from turmoil in Tigray”.<\/p>\n
Eritrea denies any such intention but its army fought in the previous war, where it was accused of mass killings and rape.<\/p>\n
Two close allies of Debretsion have rejected the accusation they are linked to Eritrea, and downplayed the possibility of another round of conflict.<\/p>\n
Speaking to BBC’s Newsday, Getachew accused high-ranking Tigrayan military officers of attempting to orchestrate an “open coup”.<\/p>\n
The tensions have sparked fresh anxiety in the region, which is yet to recover from the conflict that ended in 2022 after the TPLF and the Ethiopian government signed a peace deal.<\/p>\n
The agreement led to the creation of the interim administration, which is supposed to govern Tigray until regional elections are held.<\/p>\n
But delays in implementing the agreement have fuelled sharp divisions within the TPLF.<\/p>\n
Several countries including the US, Britain and the European Union have warned about the escalating tension, saying there must be “no return to violence”.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, France called on its nationals in Tigray to “stock up on emergency supplies and to exercise utmost caution”.<\/p>\n
In a statement, the African Union said it was following events in Tigray with “deep concern”.<\/p>\n
Additional reporting by Wycliffe Muia <\/em><\/p>\nYou may also be interested in:<\/h2>\n