4 Nov 2020
Turning point
Abiy orders military operation in Tigray
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered a military response to what he called a "traitorous" attack on federal army camps in Tigray, which he blamed on the TPLF, AFP reported.
Rivalry
How the Tigray war and the Pretoria agreement unfolded
War between Ethiopia's federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front began in November 2020 and ended with an African Union brokered cessation of hostilities signed in Pretoria on 2 November 2022. Estimates of the dead range from under 100,000, cited by some Ethiopian officials, to about 600,000, cited by the AU's lead mediator. After a split in the TPLF in 2025 and the party's deregistration, renewed fighting broke out on 23 September 2026.
4 November 2020 to today · 29 dated events · 20 sources
Where it stands now · as of 1 November 2026
Fighting between federal forces and an alliance that includes the TPLF broke out on 23 September 2026. Federal forces and an allied militia took Mekelle in early October after the TPLF withdrew and entered Adwa on 11 October. On 16 October Abiy named a new interim administration for Tigray to serve for six months ahead of elections, Reuters and AFP reported.
In 30 seconds: the turning points
- 4 Nov 2020 Abiy orders military operation in Tigray
- 28 Jun 2021 TPLF retakes Mekelle and government declares ceasefire
- 3 Nov 2021 UN and Ethiopian rights commission report on violations
- 24 Mar 2022 Government declares humanitarian truce
- 2 Nov 2022 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed
- 23 Mar 2023 Interim administration set up under Getachew Reda
Ef
🇪🇹 Side A
Ethiopian federal government
Federal government of Ethiopia, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed since 2018
VS
TP
🇪🇹 Side B
Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF)
Tigray's former ruling party, led by chairman Debretsion Gebremichael, deregistered by the National Election Board on 14 May 2025
16 : 6Moves recorded
6 : 2Military
3 : 3Leadership
4 : 0Legal step
2 : 1Statement
Timeline of events
Overview · 4 Nov 2020 to 16 Oct 2026 · click a dot to jump
2020
Nov 2020
Eritrean troops enter Tigray
Eritrea sent troops into Tigray to support Ethiopian forces shortly after the operation began, AFP reported.
Nov 2020
Federal forces take Mekelle
Federal forces entered the regional capital Mekelle in late November and Abiy declared victory, Al Jazeera and AFP reported.
2021
Feb 2021
Amnesty reports killings in Axum
Amnesty International said Eritrean soldiers killed hundreds of civilians in Axum in November 2020, AFP reported.
🇪🇹 Axum
The Citizen (AFP)
The Citizen (AFP)Mar 2021
Abiy acknowledges Eritrean presence
Abiy acknowledged that Eritrean forces were in Tigray and announced their departure, AFP reported. The same month US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke of "ethnic cleansing" in Tigray, according to AFP.
May 2021
TPLF designated a terrorist organisation
Ethiopia designated the TPLF a terrorist organisation in May 2021, Al Jazeera later reported.
28 Jun 2021
Turning point
TPLF retakes Mekelle and government declares ceasefire
The TPLF said it was back in control of Mekelle, and the federal government declared an immediate unilateral ceasefire through the farming season, Al Jazeera reported. The UN said about 350,000 people faced famine conditions.
“The capital of Tigray, Mekelle, is under our control”Getachew Reda, TPLF spokesperson, Al Jazeera
2 Nov 2021
Nationwide state of emergency
After Tigrayan forces pushed into the neighbouring Amhara and Afar regions, Ethiopia declared a nationwide state of emergency, AFP reported.
3 Nov 2021
Turning point
UN and Ethiopian rights commission report on violations
A joint investigation by the UN Human Rights Office and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, covering November 2020 to 28 June 2021, found reasonable grounds to believe that all parties had violated international law, and that some violations may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
“all parties to the Tigray conflict have committed violations of international human rights”Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Geneva newsroom (OHCHR)
24 Nov 2021
Abiy goes to the front line
Abiy went to the front line to direct his troops in person, AFP reported.
2022
Mar 2022
Researchers estimate up to 500,000 deaths
Researchers at Ghent University in Belgium estimated in March 2022 that up to 500,000 people had died, including from fighting, lack of medical care and starvation, The National reported.
24 Mar 2022
Turning point
Government declares humanitarian truce
The government declared an indefinite humanitarian truce to allow aid into Tigray, and Tigrayan forces agreed to a cessation of hostilities, AFP reported.
24 Aug 2022
Truce collapses
The truce collapsed as fighting resumed on Tigray's southern border, AFP reported.
Sep 2022
Tigrayan authorities accept AU mediation
Tigrayan authorities said they were ready for a ceasefire and a peace process mediated by the African Union, AFP reported.
25 Oct 2022
Talks open in Pretoria
African Union led peace talks between the federal government and the TPLF began in Pretoria, AFP reported.
2 Nov 2022
Turning point
Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed
The two sides signed an agreement for a permanent cessation of hostilities. Under the text, the TPLF was to complete its disarmament, including light weapons, within 30 days, federal authority was to be restored in Tigray, an interim regional administration settled through dialogue was to govern until elections, and the government was to facilitate the lifting of the TPLF's terrorist designation. A joint committee chaired by the AU was to monitor implementation. The text does not name Eritrea.
“permanent cessation of hostilities”Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, as quoted by Reuters, inkl (Reuters)
2023
Jan 2023
AU envoy puts toll at about 600,000
Olusegun Obasanjo, the African Union's lead mediator, told the Financial Times that about 600,000 people had been killed, The National reported. It said some Ethiopian officials put the figure under 100,000.
“The number of people killed was about 600,000”Olusegun Obasanjo, The National
22 Mar 2023
Parliament lifts TPLF terrorist designation
Ethiopia's parliament removed the TPLF from its list of terrorist organisations, Al Jazeera and AFP reported.
23 Mar 2023
Turning point
Interim administration set up under Getachew Reda
Abiy established an interim administration for Tigray under the Pretoria agreement, with TPLF official Getachew Reda named to head it, Al Jazeera reported.
· · · 24 months later
2025
13 Mar 2025
Turning point
TPLF faction takes offices in Mekelle
A TPLF faction led by former regional leader Debretsion Gebremichael took control of Mekelle's FM radio station and the mayor's office, two days after taking Adigrat, BBC News reported. Getachew, who was in Addis Ababa, accused the faction of trying to remove him by force and of colluding with Eritrea, which Eritrea denied.
8 Apr 2025
Tadesse Werede named interim leader
Abiy appointed Tadesse Werede, deputy head of the interim administration and a former senior TPLF commander, to lead it, Reuters reported. Getachew's two-year term had expired, Reuters said.
14 May 2025
Turning point
Election board deregisters the TPLF
The National Election Board of Ethiopia revoked the TPLF's legal status, saying it had failed to meet its registration obligations, the state Ethiopian News Agency reported. BBC News said the failure to hold a general assembly was cited. In a letter to the African Union, the TPLF said the ban threatened the peace process and asked the AU to press the government to suspend it.
“poses a serious threat to the foundation of the peace process”TPLF statement, The Star, Kenya (BBC News)
2026
Apr 2026
TPLF reinstates regional parliament
The TPLF said at the end of April 2026 that it had reinstated the regional parliament that had been suspended under the peace agreement, AFP reported.
5 May 2026
Debretsion elected to head regional parliament
TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael was elected to head the restored regional parliament, AFP reported. A TPLF deputy said the interim administration no longer existed.
“The interim administration no longer exists.”Amanuel Assefa, TPLF deputy, Arab News (AFP)
11 Jun 2026
Federal officials say TPLF is preparing an offensive
Getachew Reda, by then minister of East African affairs, and intelligence chief Redwan Hussein wrote in an opinion piece on Al Jazeera's website that hardline TPLF elements planned to attack the federal government with Eritrean help, AFP reported. AFP said direct clashes had resumed in late 2025. The TPLF did not respond to AFP.
23 Sep 2026
Turning point
Fighting resumes
Fighting broke out after seven armed and political groups, including the TPLF, announced an alliance aimed at removing Abiy's government, Al Jazeera reported. The alliance captured Mekelle airport, AFP reported. Ethiopia accuses Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of backing it. All three deny this, according to AFP.
3 Oct 2026
Turning point
Federal forces enter Mekelle
Federal troops and the pro-government Tigray Peace Forces militia entered Mekelle after retaking its airport, Reuters reported, cited by Al Jazeera. The TPLF said it had temporarily moved out of the city. AP reported that allied fighters entered the city on 4 October.
“temporarily moved out of Mekelle”TPLF statement, Al Jazeera
11 Oct 2026
Federal forces enter Adwa
Federal forces and an allied militia entered Adwa a day after TPLF fighters withdrew, residents told AFP. Days earlier government forces had taken Adigrat, and Eritrea had severed diplomatic ties with Ethiopia, AFP reported.
16 Oct 2026
Abiy names new interim administration
Abiy set up a new interim administration for Tigray to serve for six months and prepare for elections, Reuters reported. AFP said five officials, including the mayor of Mekelle, were appointed to run the region. A TPLF spokesperson did not respond to Reuters.
“must break free from this cycle of conflict”Abiy Ahmed, ThePrint (Reuters)
Background
Key facts
| War began | 4 November 2020 |
| Agreement | Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, signed in Pretoria on 2 November 2022 |
| Mediator | African Union, with a joint monitoring committee chaired by the AU High-Level Panel that includes IGAD |
| Death toll estimates | Under 100,000 (some Ethiopian officials), up to 500,000 (Ghent University, March 2022), about 600,000 (AU envoy Obasanjo, January 2023) |
| Interim administration | Set up 23 March 2023, headed by Getachew Reda and from April 2025 by Tadesse Werede |
| Renewed fighting | From 23 September 2026 |
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Sources
20 records, ranked by type- 1News report13 Sep 2022Key dates in Ethiopia's war (AFP) The Citizen (AFP) · citizen.co.za
- 2News report22 Mar 2023Timeline: the conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray (AFP)JusticeInfo.net (AFP) · justiceinfo.net
- 3News report28 Jun 2021Ethiopia declares ceasefire as rebels retake Tigray capital
Al Jazeera · aljazeera.com - 4Official record3 Nov 2021OHCHR press conference on Tigray, 03 November 2021UN Geneva newsroom (OHCHR) · unognewsroom.org
- 5Government document6 Nov 2021Joint statement on release of OHCHR-EHRC joint investigation, November 6, 2021Global Affairs Canada · canada.ca
- 6News report16 Jan 2023Tigray death toll could be as high as 600,000, African Union envoy saysThe National · thenationalnews.com
- 7News report2 Nov 2022Factbox: Key points in Ethiopia's ceasefire agreement (Reuters)inkl (Reuters) · inkl.com
- 8News report23 Mar 2023Ethiopia sets up Tigray interim government as part of peace plan Al Jazeera · aljazeera.com
- 9News report14 Mar 2025Rival forces seize mayor's office in key Ethiopian town amid fears of new conflict (BBC)The Star, Kenya (BBC News) · the-star.co.ke
- 10News report8 Apr 2025Ethiopia's PM Abiy appoints new leader of Tigray administration (Reuters)ThePrint (Reuters) · theprint.in
- 11News report16 May 2025Tigray party says ban threatens Ethiopia peace deal (BBC)The Star, Kenya (BBC News) · the-star.co.ke
- 12News report6 May 2026Fears of fresh conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray as local party retakes control (AFP)
Arab News (AFP) · arabnews.pk - 13News report12 Jun 2026Ethiopia claims Tigrayan forces preparing offensive against govt (AFP)
Citizen Digital (AFP) · citizen.digital - 14News report4 Oct 2026Ethiopian government forces seize Tigray capital Mekelle as TPLF withdraws Al Jazeera · aljazeera.com
- 15News report12 Oct 2026Ethiopian forces enter strategic Tigray town of Adwa, witnesses say (AFP) Al Jazeera (AFP) · aljazeera.com
- 16News report16 Oct 2026Ethiopia's Abiy names new Tigray government, wants polls in six months (Reuters)ThePrint (Reuters) · theprint.in
- 17News report4 Oct 2026Opposition fighters in northern Ethiopia's Tigray withdraw from regional capital (AP)
Spectrum News NY1 (AP) · ny1.com - 18Official record2 Nov 2022Agreement for Lasting Peace through a Permanent Cessation of Hostilities between the Government of the FDRE and the TPLF (full text)PA-X Peace Agreements Database, University of Edinburgh · peaceagreements.org
- 19Government document14 May 2025Election Board Revokes Legal Status of Tigray People's Liberation FrontEthiopian News Agency · ena.et
- 20News report16 Oct 2026Ethiopia announces instalment of interim government in Tigray (AFP) Al Jazeera (AFP) · aljazeera.com
Last updated 1 November 2026. Spotted an error? See corrections. Every event links to the record it comes from. Allegations are attributed to whoever made them.