Ethiopia's Tigray sees renewed fighting as accountability failures fuel violence

In August 2023, clashes erupted between Tigrayan forces and the Ethiopian National Defence Force, marking a return of hostilities in the Tigray region after the 2022 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement. Amnesty International says the renewed violence reflects the collapse of accountability mechanisms: international investigative mandates have expired, Ethiopia abandoned its transitional justice process, and alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity remain largely uninvestigated.

The organization warns that civilians in Tigray now face heightened risk of serious human rights abuses, while similar violations continue in Ethiopia's Amhara and Oromia regions. Amnesty argues that the lack of independent investigations and credible prosecutions sends a dangerous message that grave crimes can be committed without consequence, contributing to the resurgence of conflict.