Ethiopia: after 1 year of conflict in Tigray, can the rebels take control of Addis Ababa?

Mekele, the regional capital of Tigray, suffered another air raid by the federal aviation on October 20, 2021. AP

By: Clémentine Pawlotsky

1 min

Ethiopia went to war 1 year ago.

It all started on November 4, when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched a military offensive against the authorities in the dissident province of Tigray in the north of the country.

In the first phase of the conflict, the Ethiopian Federal Army, supported by Eritrea, managed to keep the pressure on the rebels.

But in recent months, the war has known a spectacular turnaround.

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In June, the rebellion regained control of Tigray.

The conflict gradually spread to the neighboring provinces of Afar and Amhara.

The rebels say they are now ready to take control of the capital, Addis Ababa.

A threat that the Ethiopian government seems to take seriously as it yesterday declared a state of emergency across the country and ordered residents of the capital to prepare to defend their neighborhoods.

Are the rebels able to take control of Addis Ababa?

Decryption with:

Roland Marchal,

researcher at CNRS and

, specialist in the Horn of Africa

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• Ethiopia

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