Eritrean soldiers have crossed into northern Ethiopia heading towards an area where clashes are ongoing between Ethiopia’s national army and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
The movement was first reported by residents of Adigrat, a town 115km north of Mekelle. According to locals, hundreds of trucks bearing Eritrean registration plates have passed through the city and are en route to Edaga Hamus, a strategic junction between Adigrat and the capital of Tigray, Mekelle.
The renewed fighting follows the 2022 ceasefire, which ended a two‑year civil war that left the entire region on the brink of famine. Though Eritrea had been a key ally of Ethiopia during that conflict, diplomatic relations between the two countries have since deteriorated over Ethiopia’s ambitions to take control of Eritrea’s strategic Red Sea port.
Last week, the two governments severed diplomatic ties after the fighting intensified, raising fears that the conflict could spill beyond Tigray.
The return of Eritrean forces has been emotionally distressing for many residents. One Adigrat townsperson said: “The memories are still fresh. I was emotional myself. People are saddened to see them back again.”
Local observations indicate that the convoys carry heavy weapons, including anti‑aircraft guns, and some troops are advancing on foot. Notes from witnesses suggest that the convoy’s size could reach as many as 60 trucks.
The BBC has not yet verified all reported troop movements. Mobile phone connectivity and internet access have largely returned to the region following the federal army’s capture of Mekelle, but the BBC is unable to dispatch reporters on the ground.
The conflict threatens to reverse the progress made in preventing famine. Agricultural livelihoods, which are critical for local food security and climate resilience, are at risk of destruction. The region’s fragile ecosystems could suffer further damage as conflict-driven displacement forces farmers to abandon fields, disrupting crop cycles and pollination networks.
Peace and stability in Tigray remain uncertain. The international community’s call for diplomatic engagement echoes the urgent need for humanitarian aid to support food security, climate‑adapted agriculture and ecosystem restoration in a region where war threatens to undo years of progress toward sustainable resilience.
