US condemns Ethiopian rebels’ ‘poor decision’ to reignite war

Brady KnoxSeptember 23, 2026

A recent escalation in Ethiopia’s ongoing conflict has occurred as a large rebel coalition launched coordinated offensives against the central government, reigniting widespread war after four years of subdued tensions. Ethiopia, the largest landlocked country, has been deeply divided over the past decade due to ethnic political groups advocating for decentralization versus Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s efforts tocentralize power. This division led to one of the 21st century’s bloodiest conflicts in 2020,when federal forces fought to control the Tigray region,resulting in up to 600,000 deaths before a ceasefire was reached two years later.

A large rebel coalition launched coordinated offensives against Ethiopia’s central government, returning the country to all-out war after four years of simmering tensions.

Ethiopia, the world’s largest landlocked country, has been torn apart over the past decade by the divergent goals of ethnic political groups seeking to keep the country decentralized, and the centralizing crusade of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. This fissure triggered one of the 21st century’s bloodiest wars in 2020 when federal forces attempted to wrestle control of the large province of Tigray, leaving up to 600,000 dead by the time a ceasefire deal was signed two years later.