August 4, 2026
By Staff Writer
(Nairobi, Kenya) — Amnesty International has warned that renewed armed fighting between federal forces and TPLF forces in northern Ethiopia has once again exposed local populations to grave human rights risks.
In an official statement released on Monday, the human rights organization urged all warring parties to strictly comply with international human rights standards and prioritize civilian protection.
Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, emphasized that victimized communities—who have yet to receive justice or accountability for past wartime atrocities—are now facing heightened peril.
Amnesty International called on both parties to grant unrestricted access for independent human rights monitors and humanitarian aid organizations. Additionally, the group urged immediate international dialogue with authorities in Addis Ababa and Mekelle to restore access for independent journalists across conflict-affected areas.
The renewed hostilities reportedly erupted on Saturday near Shererina, a strategic location in Western Tigray close to the border with Sudan.
The Tigray Interim Regional Administration, led by Dr. Debretsion Gebremichael, issued a statement formally accusing the federal government of initiating a new offensive.
Federal authorities and the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) have not issued an official response to the allegations. Official requests for comment directed to the Government Communication Service and the Ministry of Defense went unanswered.
However, an official from the Wolqayt Tegede Setit Humera zone, speaking to Deutsche Welle (DW) on condition of anonymity, rejected the Tigray administration’s claims. The official alleged that Tigrayan forces initiated the engagement in an attempt to advance toward Humera, but were repelled by federal troops and local allied fighters, forcing their retreat from Shererina.
Frontline claims could not be independently verified by third parties due to ongoing security restrictions.