About Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

Why in News? Recently, Ethiopia’s Afar region reported attacks by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

These tensions are part of the after-effects of Ethiopia’s 2020-22 civil war, which killed thousands and caused a huge humanitarian crisis.

Background: The 2020–2022 Civil War:

• The war began in November 2020 between Ethiopia’s federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), a powerful regional party and armed group from the Tigray region in northern Ethiopia.
• The fighting spread to neighbouring regions — Afar and Amhara — and involved Eritrean forces on the side of the Ethiopian government.
• The war officially ended in November 2022 with the Pretoria Peace Agreement, but many tensions remain unresolved.

About the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF):

Origin and Role

• The TPLF was founded in the 1970s as a rebel movement opposing Ethiopia’s military dictatorship.
• It later became part of a coalition called the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), which ruled Ethiopia from 1991 to 2018.
• During this time, the TPLF dominated Ethiopian politics and the military.

Why the Conflict Began:

• When Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in 2018, he reduced TPLF’s influence and created a new ruling party, sidelining TPLF leaders.
• Relations worsened after Tigray held its own regional elections in 2020, defying the federal government.
• The federal army launched a military operation in Tigray, calling it a “law-enforcement campaign,” which quickly turned into a full-scale war.