Tigray Civil War Flashcards
What are the main provisions of the Ethiopian Constitution related to regional autonomy?
Article 39 of the Ethiopian Constitution grants the right to self-determination for all ethnic groups, including the right to secede.
How did Abiy Ahmed’s reforms affect Tigray’s rights?
When Abiy Ahmed became Prime Minister in 2018, he initiated a series of reforms aimed at centralizing power
When did the Tigray Civil War begin?
November 4, 2020
What caused the Tigray Civil War?
political and ethnic tensions between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Ethiopian government led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed
What was the role of the TPLF in Ethiopia before the war?
governed Ethiopia from 1991 to 2018. The TPLF dominated the government, but its influence waned after Abiy Ahmed took power and initiated sweeping reforms.
What is the humanitarian impact of the war?
Over 5.2 million people in Tigray face severe food insecurity, 2 million people displaced
What are the main human rights violations during the conflict?
ethnic cleansing, sexual violence, and war crimes; Mass killings, including the November 2020 massacre in Mai Kadra, where hundreds of Tigrayans were killed by Amhara militias; starvation as a weapon of war
What role did Eritrea play in the conflict?
supported Ethiopian government; abuses and atrocities, including sexual violence and looting in Tigray.
What international response has there been to the Tigray Civil War?
United Nations and Human Rights Watch have condemned the violence, urging accountability for war crimes. African Union called for peaceful negotiations, but efforts for peace have been largely unsuccessful.
What is the current status of the war?
fighting continues Humanitarian access remains limited in Tigray, and the region still faces significant challenges in rebuilding after the war.
How does Realism explain the Tigray Civil War?
The Ethiopian government viewed Tigray’s power (through the TPLF) as a threat to their authority. The war represents a struggle for dominance, where the Ethiopian government seeks to assert control over Tigray and the broader Horn of Africa.
How does Liberalism interpret the Tigray Civil War?
failure of international institutions and the lack of effective peace-building mechanisms. The absence of diplomatic resolution, the failure of the African Union (AU) to mediate effectively, and the lack of international intervention highlight the limitations of international cooperation and institutions.
How does Constructivism explain the Tigray Civil War?
seen as a clash between the ethnic identity of the Tigray people and the Ethiopian national identity, with long-standing grievances related to governance, representation, and autonomy.
How does Postcolonialism interpret the Tigray Civil War?
colonial legacies and the centralization of power under the Ethiopian state have led to tensions between ethnic groups, including the Tigray. The struggle for autonomy reflects postcolonial struggles for self-determination and ethnic recognition.
What does the Security Dilemma refer to in this case?
escalating violence as each side perceives the actions of the other as a threat. As each side seeks to secure its position, the conflict escalates, with mutual distrust exacerbating the violence.
