THE SLUGFEST

 Ethopia Conflict 

Ethiopia's Tigrey region and the country's humanitarian crisis give rise to concerns of long-term regional detoriation. Without a clear framework for peace-building, post-conflict reconstruction and transitional justice, the country is at risk of drastically postponing both political and economic recovery. The breakdown in the already strained relations between the federal government in Addis Ababa and the Tigrey People's Liberation Front (TPLF)'s leaders in Tigrey has resulted in the national crisis.

                                After the World war II, the changing world order resulted into various crisis particularly in African region. Boundary disengagement, poverty, corruption, International politics by China and the US are some of the reasons behind Horn of African crisis. In 2018, anti-government protests by the marginalized Oromo population forced the TPLF to step down, resulting in the election of PM Abey Ahmed and his subsequent crackdown on the Tigreyan politicians for corruption and human rights abuses. Interbal conflict in Ethiopia has resulted in the death of 52,000 people and the displacement of over 2 million over 60,000 of whom have taken refuge in Sudan's eastern border. This has triggered an influx of sedanese and Eritrean military personnel near Ethiopia's Northern Frontier.

                                India's diplomatic and economic relations with Ethiopia do not often get attention but they may be of more importance than it may appear on the surface. How India plays its cards during the conflict the matter should be waited and watched and should not be seen as taking sides.

                                The present situation is more about sovereignty and national Pride then poverty and about the few square miles of land atound whitch fighting has been concentrated. The federal government should consider steps in effectively building frameworks for accountability, transparency and power distribution for inclusive national system of governance. A lack of transition processes will result in a return to violence in not only the Tigrey region but also in other regions where there are rising ethnic tensions. One of the best ways to prevent the same chain of events are the promotion of peaceful transition. It is imperative to recognise a broader view and develop successful post-conflict reconstruction policies before stability is beyond reach.