\n As Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed orders a \"final\" offensive on the dissident leaders of the northern Tigray region, we look at the worrying conflict in Africa's second most populous country.\n<\/p>\n
\n A timeline of the crisis:\n<\/p>\n
\n - Power struggle -\n<\/p>\n
\n The fighting has its roots in street protests that toppled the previous Tigray-dominated government in 2018.\n<\/p>\n
\n While Tigrayans make up only six percent of Ethiopia's population, they dominate national politics -- and the military -- for nearly three decades after leading the revolt against autocrat Mengistu Hailemariam in 1991.\n<\/p>\n
\n All that changes when Abiy Ahmed becomes prime minister in April 2018, the first ever from the Oromo ethnic group, the country's largest.\n<\/p>\n
\n Tigrayans lose cabinet posts and some top military posts.\n<\/p>\n
\n Oromos and Amharas -- Ethiopia's second biggest ethnic group -- felt marginalised under the old authoritarian coalition.\n<\/p>\n
\n Ethnic violence and calls for greater autonomy erupt up in several parts of the country.\n<\/p>\n
\n - Peace prize -\n<\/p>\n
\n Abiy wins the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2019 for initiating a rapprochement with Eritrea, ending a stalemate that dated back to a border war that lasted from 1998 to 2000.\n<\/p>\n
\n But things are less peaceful at home.\n<\/p>\n
\n Weeks after his Nobel win, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) refuses to join Abiy's new ruling party, complaining it is being sidelined and unfairly targeted by corruption probes.\n<\/p>\n
\n TPLF leaders return to their region, with Abiy accusing them of trying to destabilise the country.\n<\/p>\n
\n - Election rift -\n<\/p>\n
\n Elections set for August 2020 are postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic despite opposition protests, and no new date is set.\n<\/p>\n
\n Tigray defies Abiy by going ahead with its own elections on September 9. Addis Ababa brands the Tigray government unlawful, which in turn says it no longer recognises Abiy's administration.\n<\/p>\n
\n Federal funds to the region are slashed, which the TPLF says is \"tantamount to an act of war\".\n<\/p>\n
\n - Fighting starts -\n<\/p>\n
\n On November 4, Abiy orders a military response to a deadly \"traitorous\" attack on federal army camps in Tigray. The TPLF denies responsibility and says the reported attack is a pretext for an \"invasion\".\n<\/p>\n
\n Two days later, with fighting intensifying, Abiy sacks the head of the military, whose top brass contains many battle-hardened Tigrayans.\n<\/p>\n
\n On November 9, Ethiopia carries out more air strikes in Tigray with Abiy saying the operation will be all over \"soon\".\n<\/p>\n
\n - Refugees and 'war crimes' -\n<\/p>\n
\n Thousands of refugees flee into neighbouring Sudan as the African Union follows the UN in demanding an end to the fighting.\n<\/p>\n
\n Refugee flows later swell to 40,000.\n<\/p>\n
\n On November 12, Amnesty International says many civilians have been killed in a massacre which witnesses say was carried out by forces loyal to the Tigray government. The TPLF denies involvement.\n<\/p>\n
\n The next day the UN calls for an inquiry into \"war crimes\" in the region.\n<\/p>\n
\n That night Tigray fires \"missiles\" at two airports it claims are being used by the Ethiopian military in the neighbouring state of Amhara.\n<\/p>\n
\n - Eritrea attacked -\n<\/p>\n
\n On November 14, Tigray threatens missile attacks on Asmara, the capital of neighbouring Eritrea. It says Eritrea is helping the federal forces.\n<\/p>\n
\n Later in the evening the area around Asmara's airport is hit by several rocket strikes.\n<\/p>\n
\n - 'Final assault' -\n<\/p>\n
\n After three weeks of fighting in which he rejected peace talks, Abiy says government tanks are advancing on Tigray's capital, Mekele.\n<\/p>\n
\n On Thursday he orders the \"final phase\" of the attack with the army saying it is encircling the city and its half a million inhabitants.\n<\/p>\n
\n Abiy appeals to civilians to \"stay at home and away from military targets.\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed orders a \"final\" offensive on the dissident leaders of the northern Tigray region, we look at the worrying conflict in Africa's second most populous country. A timeline of the crisis: - Power struggle - The fighting has its roots in street protests that toppled the previous Tigray-dominated government in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":60,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[553],"tags":[],"ji_location":[],"class_list":["post-46104","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-live-feed"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n