Ethiopian, Tigrayan forces mobilize along Tigray border

Ethiopian federal and Tigrayan forces have mobilized along the northern Tigray region's border, raising concerns of a renewed conflict, a Western diplomatic source said on Tuesday. 

"The ENDF (federal army) is encircling Tigray," the source said on condition of anonymity, adding that Tigrayan forces "are also deploying toward their borders".

"Such large numbers of troops positioning themselves face to face is not a good sign," he said.

The 2020–2022 conflict, which involved the federal army, local militias, and Eritrean forces against the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), left at least 600,000 people dead, according to African Union estimates.

A local source in Tigray described the current mobilization as "massive," stressing the need for international pressure to prevent further escalation. 

Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which previously fought alongside federal troops, have deteriorated amid accusations that Eritrea is supplying weapons to Tigrayan forces, a claim Asmara denies.

Last week, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk urged all parties to implement urgent de-escalation measures "before it is too late."