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Pasha 87: Why de-escalation and dialogue is necessary for Ethiopia and Tigray

Tensions between Ethiopia’s central government and its Tigray region escalated after Tigray disputed a decision by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to delay elections. Tigray held its own elections. Ahmed then launched a military offensive on Tigray. Mass casualties, suffering and regional conflict are likely. Ethiopia, which has a legacy of civil war, needs to work towards a peaceful resolution. But what will that take?

In today’s episode of Pasha, Francesca Baldwin, a PhD research student, and Heike I Schmidt, an associate professor in modern African history, both at the University of Reading, discuss what has led to this situation and how it could possibly be solved.


Read more: Ethiopia's troubled history provides clues to why an all-out civil war is possible


Photo: Ethiopian refugees fleeing fighting in Tigray province queue to receive supplies at the Um Rakuba camp in Sudan’s eastern Gedaref province, on November 16, 2020. By Ebrahim/Getty Images Getty Images.

Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.

“Expressions of the mind (Piano loop)” by ShadyDave, found on Freesound licensed under Attribution Noncommercial License..

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