By Alessandro Di Bussolo
Pope Leo is following “with deep concern” the situation in Tigray, a region of Ethiopia, and in the neighboring areas of Afar and Amhara, “where hostilities have once again broken out.” In English, at the end of the General Audience, before greeting the Italian faithful, he delivered this appeal to the parties involved in the conflict:
“I extend my heartfelt plea to all parties to choose the path of dialogue. Armed conflict never solves problems but only worsens them, leaving in its wake a trail of death, destruction, and resentment. Only honest engagement can lay the foundations for lasting peace.”
The Pope’s “fervent hope” is that the international community “will offer its generous and timely contribution, to ensuring that all humanitarian aid be provided to those in need.”
The situation in Tigray today
The situation in Tigray has become increasingly tense. In recent hours, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the region’s main political force, which fought against the federal government during the 2020–2022 Tigray War, and the Tigray Defence Forces (TDF), the Tigrayan military forces that fought the Ethiopian army during that same war, have intensified conflict with Ethiopian military forces.
Numerous clashes have been reported along the Tekeze River, west of Tigray, in the Wolkayt area, on the border with the Afar region, and in various parts of Amhara.
Expansion of the fighting
The death toll has yet to be independently verified. According to the Ethiopian army, 700 Tigrayan fighters were reportedly killed over two days.
Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) reported that between Sep 22 and 25, more than 400 wounded people arrived at hospitals in Korem and Alamata, while another 300 were admitted to hospitals in Suhul and Shire, in northwestern Tigray.
In the areas hardest hit by the conflict, the delivery of humanitarian aid also remains difficult: many roads have been cut off, while in the north, internet and telephone connections have been completely disrupted, making it impossible for aid workers to coordinate their efforts.
Politically, the Ethiopian government accuses neighboring Eritrea of supporting the TPLF and other opposition forces, while the Eritrean government strongly denies any involvement in the escalation of violence.
Meanwhile, the European Union has once again described the situation as rapidly deteriorating, both politically and militarily, announcing immediate diplomatic and humanitarian measures in an attempt to halt the resumption of the conflict, which risks setting the entire region ablaze. – Vatican News
