The Ethiopia Tigray Conflict Explained with Alex de Waal | TMR

Professor Alex de Waal joins to discuss the conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Eritrean and Ethiopian forces have launched a new assault on the Tigray region in Ethiopia, according to reports. The assault follows months of conflict and humanitarian crisis in the region, which began in November 2020 when the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) launched an attack on federal military bases. In response, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered a military campaign against the TPLF, which resulted in widespread destruction and human rights abuses. The situation has been exacerbated by the involvement of Eritrean forces, which have been accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. The ongoing conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions of people.

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On the phone we have Alex DeWall. he's the executive director of the world peace Foundation professor at Tufts University Fletcher School of Law and policy. Professor, thanks for joining us. It's a pleasure to be with you. let's could I mean this is a conflict that's been going on for two years at least I guess in this form. There was for many many years a conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Can you just set the context for us? who changed? you know what were we talking about when Eritrea and Ethiopia were at War and what changed from then in terms of leadership and then? And then maybe walk us up to what ignited the conflict with the Tigray region and Ethiopia and I guess Eritrea as well and the Amhara? So the basic story is this: for about 25 years from the early 1990s there were two rival governments in Ethiopia and the former Ethiopian province of Eritrea which had got independence in 1993. and the Ethiopian government was authoritarian but relatively open a very effective developmental State. rapid economic growth. and a sort of an anchor of peace and Security in the region so very popular with Western countries for its stand in fighting terrorism. it was an attractive Target for investment. and although it was authoritarian it wasn't totalitarian. Eritrea on the other hand was a totally totally totalitarian state with no political parties, no Judiciary , no budget published, no Constitution , and no totally a one-man show under its president.