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Ethiopia's federal government has vowed to continue a military offensive in the Tigray region despite international calls for restraint
Tensions have come to a head with some fearing civil war
So how did it come to this?
[Thread]
https://bbc.in/36oTzPg
![Ethiopia's federal government has vowed to continue a military offensive in the Tigray region despite international calls for restraintTensions have come to a head with some fearing civil warSo how did it come to this? [Thread] https://bbc.in/36oTzPg](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EmoSXxVXEAI4aQA.jpg "Ethiopia's federal government has vowed to continue a military offensive in the Tigray region despite international calls for restraintTensions have come to a head with some fearing civil warSo how did it come to this? [Thread] https://bbc.in/36oTzPg")
Tensions have come to a head with some fearing civil war
So how did it come to this?
[Thread]
https://bbc.in/36oTzPg
Prime Minister Abiy has ordered the military to mount an offensive against the Tigray region which is governed by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF)
He says it is a response to an attack on a federal army base
https://bbc.in/36oTzPg
He says it is a response to an attack on a federal army base
https://bbc.in/36oTzPg
The TPLF was the dominant political party in Ethiopia for decades
In 2018 Mr Abiy was elected as a "reformist leader" and he removed key TPLF figures from central government accusing officials of corruption and human rights abuses
https://bbc.in/36oTzPg
In 2018 Mr Abiy was elected as a "reformist leader" and he removed key TPLF figures from central government accusing officials of corruption and human rights abuses
https://bbc.in/36oTzPg
Mr Abiy brought in a series of political reforms which the TPLF sees as an attempt to build a unitary system of government destroying the current federal arrangement
They also want more say over future relations with Ethiopia's neighbour Eritrea
https://bbc.in/36oTzPg
They also want more say over future relations with Ethiopia's neighbour Eritrea
https://bbc.in/36oTzPg
Recent tensions escalated when the federal government postponed national elections citing Covid-19
Tigray held elections in September in defiance of the decision
Since then, both sides have designated each other as "illegitimate and unconstitutional"
https://bbc.in/36oTzPg
Tigray held elections in September in defiance of the decision
Since then, both sides have designated each other as "illegitimate and unconstitutional"
https://bbc.in/36oTzPg
The TPLF have made allusions to secession, citing the federal constitution which allows "the right to secession"
In October, the federal government cut ties with the Tigray region and the upper house of parliament voted to suspend budget aid to Tigray
https://bbc.in/36oTzPg
In October, the federal government cut ties with the Tigray region and the upper house of parliament voted to suspend budget aid to Tigray
https://bbc.in/36oTzPg
A dispute about territory, particularly the area around the town of Badme in Tigray led to the 1998-2000 Ethiopia-Eritrea war
Eritrea wants Ethiopia to abide by a UN-backed border commission ruling to hand over the town against TPLF's wishes
https://bbc.in/36oTzPg
Eritrea wants Ethiopia to abide by a UN-backed border commission ruling to hand over the town against TPLF's wishes
https://bbc.in/36oTzPg
The TPLF say they are ready to fight to defend the region while Mr Abiy's office says "the last red line had been crossed"
There are risks with this level of rhetoric that the conflict in Tigray, if not resolved, could blow up into something more serious
https://bbc.in/36oTzPg
There are risks with this level of rhetoric that the conflict in Tigray, if not resolved, could blow up into something more serious
https://bbc.in/36oTzPg
