More troops near the Tigray-Amhara border have people watching closely. The TPLF now controls the key city of Alamata. Federal forces pulled out in January, leaving the area under TPLF rule. Alamata has been a battleground since the war started in 2020. The recent increase in soldiers has led to worries about peace holding. Its disputed status and strategic location are causing more unease.
Alamata lies where Tigray and Amhara meet. The TPLF now governs the Raya Valley. Locals say they’ve seen more troops around. Some describe the city as heavily guarded. Ato Gebru TsefaEzigi told DW: “Most of the city is full of soldiers. It looks like a military base.” Another person, who asked not to be named, said TPLF soldiers are ready for war. Alamata’s central role in the valley makes it a vital link in the region. This military buildup has many people scared of conflict returning, especially in an area still struggling with the war’s effects.
Alamata is about 15 kilometers north of Kobo in Amhara. It sits on a main road connecting Tigray with central Ethiopia. Because of its location, the city was a key point in the war and a major transport hub. Ethiopian forces occupied it in November 2020 at the start of the Tigray War. TPLF forces took control in January 2026 when federal troops left. Even with the Pretoria Peace Agreement from 2022, the city’s status is still unclear. The deal, backed by the African Union, aimed to help calm tensions and handle territorial disputes.
Allegations of military attacks and blame
On August 2, Tigray’s regional government said Ethiopian federal forces attacked Western Tigray near Shererina. The claim accused the federal side of working with Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF). If true, this could signal a new phase in the war. The Ethiopian federal government has not commented yet. Meanwhile, Ethiopian media reported that Minister Abraham Belay confirmed fighting in Western Tigray. He blamed the TPLF for starting it, deepening the mutual accusations between the two sides.
The TPLF, once a major political group in Ethiopia, has lost power since the war began. But its continued control over areas like Alamata raises questions about the peace’s strength. Internal splits in the TPLF might be making peace negotiations harder. The war between 2020 and 2022 caused massive damage. Around 600,000 people died, and millions were forced to leave their homes. Basic services collapsed, and recovery is still difficult. The war also saw both sides blaming each other for its start, with no clear answer.
Demands for access, cooperation, and calm
The Pretoria Peace Agreement in 2022 mostly stopped large-scale fighting. But many parts of the deal haven’t been carried out. Areas like Alamata, still under military control, haven’t returned to civilian rule. Restoring civil government in contested regions remains unfinished. The African Union has urged all sides to complete the agreement and resolve conflicts through talks. Recent messages from the group have again pushed for cooperation and calm.
Human rights groups have also spoken out. Amnesty International keeps asking for independent access to Tigray and nearby areas. Suad Nur, the group’s Horn of Africa campaigner, said: “We want human rights observers, investigators, and journalists to enter Tigray and other areas affected by the conflict.” She warned that without oversight, violence could spread unchecked. Her words show growing fear that without proper monitoring, abuse and fighting could continue unchecked.
Wider consequences and threats
New fighting in Tigray could ripple beyond Ethiopia. Analysts warn it could disrupt trade and overload aid groups already stretched in places like Sudan and Somalia. If hostilities return in northern Ethiopia, it could make humanitarian problems worse, causing more displacement and suffering. For people in Alamata and nearby regions, the return of troops brings back painful memories. Many are still trying to rebuild their homes. The region’s uncertain path threatens to undo the small progress made so far.
Benita van Eyssen edited it.