Tigray People's Liberation Front

Force in Play

Withdrew from Mekelle and the northern towns, shifted to mobile warfare and rejected a disarmament offer; a commander vowed to keep attacking government positions

Federal forces hold Mekelle, Adigrat, Shire and Adwa, and a caretaker administration with a six-month mandate is now running Tigray. On October 23 its political mobilization chief told Tigrayan fighters to hand over their weapons; a TPLF commander had urged more attacks hours earlier.

Updated Oct 29

Force in Play

Claims it killed 1,511 Ethiopian soldiers in central Tigray while federal forces expand around Aksum.

Ethiopian forces and their Tigray Peace Force allies entered Aksum in mid-October and took Bizet and Inticho on October 20, extending federal control across northern Tigray. Federal troops also pulled back from the border towns of Zalambessa and Rama while keeping up drone and artillery strikes on Tigrayan fighters in the central mountains.

Updated Oct 23

Force in Play

Fractured between hardline and conciliatory factions; resumed military operations in January 2026

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed won the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for ending a 20-year standoff with Eritrea. Now he's publicly accusing Eritrean troops of massacring Ethiopian civilians during their joint war against Tigray—a war they fought together as allies.

Updated Oct 16

Force in Play

As of October 2026: Member of the new alliance; declared a new war with the federal government on September 23

Seven Ethiopian armed groups announced a joint coalition on September 20, linking rebel movements from the country's largest regions under one banner. Three days later, Tigrayan leaders declared a new war with the federal government, and fighting has since spread into the neighboring Afar and Amhara regions.

Updated Oct 5