EPF Urges Restraint as Ethiopia–TPLF Tensions Rise, Calls for Renewed Commitment to Peace

The European Peace Foundation (EPF) has raised alarm over what it describes as a worrying escalation in political and security tensions between the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, warning that the fragile peace achieved since 2022 could be at risk.

In a statement released on Tuesday, 4 August 2026, the EPF said recent reports from local and international media point to deteriorating relations between Addis Ababa and Mekelle. Concerns have grown over possible military mobilization and renewed confrontation, including in areas near the Ethiopia–Sudan border.

The foundation noted that communities in Tigray are still recovering from the devastating conflict that erupted in November 2020 and formally ended with the signing of the Pretoria Agreement on 2 November 2022. The war resulted in widespread civilian suffering, mass displacement, and severe destruction of infrastructure, creating one of the Horn of Africa’s most acute humanitarian crises.

According to the EPF, the Pretoria Agreement offered Ethiopia a historic opportunity to rebuild trust and pursue national reconciliation. However, disagreements over its implementation — including tensions involving the Tigray Interim Regional Administration and growing mistrust between Mekelle and Addis Ababa — now threaten to undermine the progress made over the past three years.

The EPF emphasized that political disputes cannot be resolved through military means. Any return to armed conflict, it warned, would reverse hard‑earned gains, deepen humanitarian suffering, and destabilize the wider Horn of Africa. It would also jeopardize Ethiopia’s efforts toward national recovery, economic development, and democratic transformation.

Reaffirming its position under the Global Peace 2030 initiative, the foundation called on both the Ethiopian government and the TPLF to exercise maximum restraint and avoid actions that could escalate tensions. It urged both sides to recommit to the full implementation of the Pretoria Agreement and to prioritize the safety and well‑being of the Ethiopian people.

The EPF concluded by stressing that Ethiopia’s future depends on sustained peace, justice, and inclusive dialogue — principles it says must guide all political and security decisions in the coming months.

The EPF’s concerns come amid reports that the Ethiopian government has recently launched a military attack against Tigray Security Forces in Shererina, Western Tigray. In addition, federal authorities have been widely accused of spreading hostile propaganda against Tigray and the ruling party, the TPLF. Regional officials also report that the federal government is withholding Tigray’s annual budget, fuel supplies, and other essential subsidies — resources critical for public services and humanitarian recovery.