The security situation along the Amhara region’s northern frontier has taken a dire turn as Tigrayan forces launched a series of aggressive maneuvers, seizing control of disputed territories and forcing a massive wave of Amhara civilians to flee for their lives. According to detailed accounts from The Reporter Ethiopia, the town of Alamata and surrounding districts have fallen to TPLF-aligned divisions following a strategic withdrawal by federal forces that left local communities vulnerable to the advancing militia. This latest eruption of violence has driven tens of thousands of residents toward Kobo and Woldiya, creating an immediate and desperate humanitarian emergency as families abandon their homes to escape the encroaching conflict.
The occupation of Alamata has been followed by reports of systematic targeting of local leadership and residents perceived to have ties to the Amhara regional administration. Sources on the ground informed The Reporter that TPLF forces have implemented a “mercy notice,” effectively an ultimatum demanding that local gun owners surrender their weapons by late March. This atmosphere of intimidation is compounded by the mass detention of approximately 500 individuals, including highly respected religious leaders, women, and community elders known as Abo Gerebs. These civilians are reportedly being held in local school compounds, with accounts emerging of TPLF captors demanding steep ransoms of up to 200,000 Birr per person for their release, a move that has sparked outrage among the displaced population.
The military vacuum created by the retreat of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) allowed Tigrayan forces to consolidate power rapidly across Alamata, Beraya Alamata, Rayabala, Korem, and Wefla. While federal troops reportedly moved back to avoid direct engagement, the consequence for Amhara civilians has been a complete loss of security and the imposition of TPLF regional symbols, including the hoisting of the Tigrayan flag in occupied towns. Further reports indicate that the aggression is not limited to Alamata, as heavy fighting has been documented in Telemt and areas like Fiyel Weha, where TPLF forces continue to push against existing boundaries, directly threatening the stability of the entire northern Amhara zone.
This renewed offensive by Tigrayan forces represents a significant violation of the spirit of the Pretoria Agreement and has drawn sharp concern from the international community. African Union Commission Chair Mahamoud Ali Youssof has issued an urgent plea for restraint, emphasizing that such hostilities jeopardize the fragile peace established in 2022. However, for the people of the Amhara region, the immediate reality is one of displacement and fear. With commercial flights suspended and basic resources like cash becoming scarce, the TPLF’s territorial expansion has not only disrupted the lives of over a million internally displaced persons but has also placed a severe strain on the upcoming national elections and the long-term prospects for a secure border.
