What happened? Despite a lull in large-scale fighting since late December, the Tigray region’s forces continued to clash with fighters in the neighbouring Afar region where the humanitarian toll remained high; meanwhile, the armed conflict in Ethiopia’s largest region, Oromia, intensified.
Why does it matter? The fragile lull in large-scale fighting between the federal coalition and the Tigray region’s forces continues to create an opportunity for dialogue. The parties must seize the moment if they are to end the hostilities and move toward greater stability.