For months, a conflict in Ethiopia between the government in Addis Ababa and the Tigray region has resulted in thousands of lives lost and displaced at least a million people. The situation in Tigray, often overlooked, is now gaining attention due to alleged atrocities and a worsening refugee crisis. Here's a look at the region, its history, and the ongoing conflict.
Map of Tigray Region in Ethiopia
Where is Tigray?
Tigray is Ethiopia's northernmost region, bordering Eritrea. It is home to most of the country's estimated 7 million ethnic Tigrayans. This ethnic group, accounting for about 6% of Ethiopia's population, has had a significant influence in national affairs.
Historical Context
Tigray is often regarded as the cradle of Ethiopian civilization, showcasing many historic monuments. The capital of the 3,000-year-old kingdom of Dʿmt may have been near present-day Yeha. After the fall of Dʿmt in the 5th century BC, the plateau was dominated by smaller successor kingdoms.
The Kingdom of Aksum, a trading empire rooted in northern Ethiopia, existed from approximately 100-940 AD. At its height, the Empire of Aksum extended across most of present-day Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Sudan, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia. The capital city of the empire was Axum, now in northern Ethiopia. Other important cities included Yeha, Hawulti-Melazo, Matara, Adulis, and Qohaito, with the last three now in Eritrea.
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Map of the Aksumite Empire
In the 11th century, the Tigrinya-speaking lands were divided into two provinces by the Mereb River. The governor of the northern province was titled Bahre Negash, while the governor of the southern province was given the title of Tigray Mekonen.
Adigrat: A Key City in Tigray
Adigrat (Tigrinya: ዓዲግራት), also called ʿAddi Grat, is a city and separate woreda in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. It is located in the Misraqawi Zone at an elevation of 2,457 metres (8,061 ft) above sea level. Adigrat is a strategically important gateway to Eritrea and the Red Sea. The origin of the name Adigrat means the origin of king of Aksum "GDRT".
Adigrat emerged as the political capital of Tigray when dejazmach Sabagadis Woldu of Agame assumed the governorship of the region in the period 1822-30. During the First Italian-Abyssinian War, the Italians occupied Adigrat on 25 March 1895 and used it as a base to support their advance south to Mek'ele. The Italians again occupied Adigrat at the beginning of the Second Italian-Abyssinian War 7 October 1935. Adigrat was captured by rebels in the Woyane rebellion 25 September 1943, forcing the Ethiopian government administrators to flee to neighboring Eritrea.
Rock-Hewn Churches of Tigray, Ethiopia [Amazing Places]
Landmarks and Culture in Adigrat
Adigrat is known for several landmarks and cultural aspects:
Read also: Ancient Ethiopian Churches
- Debre Damo: A flat-topped mountain with a 6th-century monastery.
- Gunda Gunde: An Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo monastery known for its scriptorium and Ge'ez manuscripts.
- Abuna Yemata Guh: A monolithic church located at a height of 2,580 metres (8,460 ft), requiring a challenging climb to reach.
- Cathedral of the Holy Saviour: The cathedral of the Eparchy of Adigrat, formally consecrated on 19 April 1969.
- Local Cuisine: Tihlo, a dish unique to Adigrat and the wider Eastern Tigray.
- Sports: Local cycling tournaments held every Sunday morning.
Sacred Landscapes of Tigray
Tigray is home to 121 rock-hewn churches, believed to represent the single largest group of rock-hewn architecture in the world. Eighty of these churches, dating from the 5th to 14th centuries AD, as well as a small number of masonry-and-timber built churches, which include some of the oldest timber structures surviving worldwide (6th - 10th centuries AD), are located in the Sacred Landscapes of Tigray.
The proposed serial nomination consists of three separate zones containing groups of rock-hewn churches in spectacular natural landscapes located in Mehakelegnaw and Misraqawi Zones in the eastern half of Tigray Regional State:
- The Sacred Landscape of Gheralta
- The Sacred Landscape of Tembien
- The Atsbi Sacred Landscape
Rock-hewn churches in Tigray
The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF)
The TPLF originally formed in the 1970s to push for Tigrayan self-determination. It became the dominant player in the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), which led Ethiopia's government for nearly three decades. After being sidelined at the national level, the TPLF was accused by the government of seeking to destabilize Ethiopia by orchestrating ethnic violence across the country.
The Current Conflict
In early November, the regional government, controlled by the TPLF, launched a full-scale siege of a key Ethiopian military base. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered a federal offensive against the region, setting off the conflict. The United Nations says the humanitarian community has been largely unable to get outside the major cities to see what's happening in the countryside. The conflict has killed thousands of people, and more than two million people have been displaced by fighting.
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Eritrean forces are reportedly engaged in the Tigray fight, backing Ethiopia. The Associated Press reported that Eritrean soldiers were involved in a massacre of civilians in the town of Axum in the early days of the conflict. Both governments have denied that Eritrean troops are even in Ethiopia.
The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights has asked Ethiopia for access to Tigray to investigate possible war crimes there, after reports of extrajudicial killings and sexual violence.
Humanitarian Crisis
The United Nations says the humanitarian community has been largely unable to get outside the major cities, such as the regional capital of Mekele, to see what's happening in the countryside. So far, the conflict has killed thousands of people, many of whom allegedly died as a result of indiscriminate shelling of cities in Tigray by Ethiopian forces. A local official told Reuters in January that more than two million people have been displaced by fighting, far exceeding previous estimates. The conflict also threatens a regional humanitarian disaster. In January, the U.N. refugee agency said some 56,000 people had fled the fighting in Tigray, many of whom have ended up in neighboring Sudan.
Irob: A Community Caught in the Crossfire
Irob, also referred to as Irob land or Adi Irob, is located in the north eastern part of Tigray, bordering Eritrea. The people of Irob speak Saho, a Cushitic language. The ongoing genocidal war on Tigray is one that includes international actors, but for Irob this war appears to only include one actor: Eritrean forces. The violence was almost identical to the war crimes and crimes against humanity occurring in Irob today. Having yet recovered from the border war and occupation, the people of Irob are once again subjugated to violent occupying Eritrean forces.
In addition to the looting of schools, health centers and the destruction and burning of private property, and killing of livestock, the elderly have been beaten, young men have been massacred, and women and girls have been raped. Massacres have occurred across Irob, where some whole families are being killed.
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