Ethiopia: How far will Abiy go with military operation in Tigray?

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has reshuffled his cabinet and top military leadership as the federal government forces continue an operation in the northern region of Tigray.

The military offensive comes after months of growing tensions between the central government in Addis Ababa and Tigray’s governing Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) party.

Abiy has accused the TPLF of attempting to undermine his leadership and moved to dissolve its regional government.

But Tigray leaders say Abiy is not a legitimate leader since he postponed elections this year due to COVID-19 and they say they are being targeted unfairly.

Is there a risk of a protracted civil conflict?

Presenter: Mohammed Jamjoom

Guests:

William Davison – Senior analyst for Ethiopia at International Crisis Group

Mustafa Omer – President of Somali Regional State of Ethiopia and executive committee member of the governing Prosperity Party

Mesenbet Assefa – Assistant professor of law at Addis Ababa University School of Law