Ethiopian Prime Minister Admits Eritrean Forces Massacred Civilians in Tigray for First Time
Addis Ababa, 4 February 2026
After five years of denial, Ethiopia’s Abiy Ahmed has publicly acknowledged that Eritrean troops killed hundreds of civilians in Aksum during the Tigray war. This dramatic reversal from his 2020 claim that ‘not a single civilian was killed’ marks a significant shift in Ethiopia’s official position on wartime atrocities committed by its former ally.
A Stark Reversal from Previous Denials
The admission represents a dramatic departure from Abiy’s previous position on the Aksum killings. On 30 November 2020, just one day after the reported massacres, Abiy told parliament that ‘not a single civilian was killed’ during the operation [1][3][4]. This stark contradiction highlights the extent to which the Ethiopian government had sought to conceal the role of its Eritrean allies in civilian casualties during the early stages of the Tigray conflict.
Details of the Aksum Massacre Emerge
The killings occurred over two consecutive days in November 2020, with witnesses reporting that Eritrean soldiers killed hundreds of unarmed civilians on 28 and 29 November 2020 [1][4]. In his parliamentary address on Tuesday, 3 February 2026, Abiy specifically acknowledged that Eritrean forces conducted ‘mass executions of youth’ when they entered Aksum during the conflict [3][4]. The Prime Minister’s comments relate to long-standing allegations that had previously been denied by both Ethiopian and Eritrean authorities [4].
Widespread Destruction Beyond Aksum
Abiy’s revelations extended beyond the Aksum massacre to encompass systematic destruction across multiple Tigrayan cities. The Prime Minister detailed how Eritrean troops demolished homes, looted properties, destroyed industries and seized machinery in Adwa, Aksum, Adigrat and Shire during the Tigray war [1][3][4]. In Adwa, Eritrean forces ‘began dismantling and looting factories,’ whilst in Adigrat, they ‘uprooted what could be moved from the pharmaceutical factory and destroyed the rest’ [3]. Abiy revealed that he had dispatched envoys to Eritrea during the war, urging its government to halt the destruction and killings [4].
Context of Previous AU Concerns and Current Tensions
This development comes against the backdrop of previous concerns about the fragility of peace in the region. As previously reported, the African Union had called for maximum restraint as new clashes between Ethiopian federal forces and Tigrayan fighters threatened to unravel the hard-won peace achieved in November 2022 [GPT]. The AU brokered a ceasefire between Ethiopia’s federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in November 2022, but Eritrea was not a signatory to the Pretoria Agreement [1][4]. Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea have since deteriorated significantly, particularly over Ethiopia’s desire for access to the Red Sea through Eritrea [1][3][4].
Implications for Regional Stability and Refugee Populations
The admission coincides with renewed tensions that directly impact civilian safety in the region. Passenger flights between Addis Ababa and cities in Tigray resumed on Tuesday, 3 February 2026, after a five-day suspension caused by clashes in a disputed area of western Tigray [1][4]. Ethiopia’s foreign ministry has recently accused Eritrea of changing allegiances in Tigray, raising fears of renewed conflict [1]. For Ethiopian refugees in camps across the region, these developments signal ongoing instability that may influence decisions about repatriation to their homeland. An African Union envoy has estimated that approximately 600,000 people were killed during the two-year Tigray war [1][4], underscoring the devastating human cost of the conflict and the significance of Abiy’s belated acknowledgement of Eritrean atrocities.