The short version
- Regional officials in Tigray cancelled the Ashenda festival gathering in Mekelle due to safety concerns following recent drone strikes.
- Tigrayan authorities blame federal forces for the attacks, while the central government has not responded to requests for comment on these accusations.
- Political friction has intensified since the TPLF reinstated its pre-war council, raising fears that the 2022 peace agreement may be unraveling.
A significant cultural and religious event in northern Ethiopia has been abruptly called off, signaling a sharp deterioration in security conditions within the Tigray region. The Ashenda festival, which traditionally draws thousands of participants to celebrate women and commemorate the Virgin Mary, was scheduled to feature a large mass gathering at a stadium in Mekelle, the regional capital. Organizers decided against proceeding with the event on Saturday, citing immediate threats posed by ongoing aerial bombardments.
The decision reflects growing anxiety among residents who are still recovering from a brutal two-year civil war that concluded in 2022. That conflict left an estimated hundreds of thousands dead and caused widespread destruction across the region. While a peace agreement was signed between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and the federal government to end the fighting, recent events suggest that stability remains fragile. The cancellation underscores how quickly the prospect of renewed violence can disrupt daily life and cultural traditions in areas previously thought to be at peace.
Regional authorities have pointed to a series of deadly drone strikes as the primary reason for halting the festivities. According to Tigray’s communications affairs bureau, a strike hit Mekelle on Thursday, resulting in injuries to thirteen civilians and damage to residential homes. Officials also reported additional attacks in surrounding areas, including two strikes near Dandera on August 18 that killed one person and injured another, as well as an incident in the Raya-Alamata district on August 10 that left three people dead. These incidents have created a climate of fear that organizers deemed incompatible with holding a large public assembly.
Tigrayan leaders have explicitly blamed federal armed forces for these aerial attacks, accusing them of targeting innocent citizens. Dori Asgedom, the head of the region’s culture and tourism bureau, stated that the gathering would not proceed due to the persistent threat of war and ongoing drone strikes. He condemned the attack on Mekelle as an unforgivable act in history and called for international condemnation. The regional administration has urged the global community to break its silence and take urgent diplomatic action to prevent further escalation of hostilities.
The federal government has not issued a response to these accusations or to requests for comment from media outlets regarding the drone strikes. This lack of communication adds to the uncertainty surrounding the current security situation. Without official clarification from Addis Ababa, residents in Tigray are left to navigate a tense environment where the source and intent of the attacks remain officially unacknowledged by the central state. The silence from federal authorities contrasts sharply with the vocal condemnation coming from regional officials.
Underlying these immediate security concerns are deeper political tensions that have been building throughout the year. The TPLF recently removed the interim administration that had been established under the 2022 peace deal and reinstated its pre-war council. This move has exacerbated mistrust between the two sides, with both parties accusing each other of failing to fully implement the terms of the agreement. The removal of the transitional government structure is seen by many analysts as a significant step backward in the peace process, potentially reopening old wounds and reigniting conflict.
The Ashenda festival holds particular significance for young women in Tigray and other parts of northern Ethiopia. The name translates to 'the tall green grass' in Tigrinya, and the event has evolved into a broader cultural celebration of womanhood. Participants traditionally dress in their finest attire, braid their hair in specific styles, and engage in dancing and social activities that are otherwise restricted during much of the year. For many young women who fought in the previous civil war, the prospect of another conflict is deeply unsettling, making the cancellation of this safe space for expression particularly poignant.
As political friction continues to mount, the risk of a renewed large-scale conflict appears higher than it has been since the peace deal was signed. The combination of military incidents, such as the drone strikes, and political maneuvers, like the reinstatement of the pre-war council, creates a volatile mix. International observers are watching closely to see whether diplomatic channels can de-escalate the situation or if the region is sliding back into the kind of violence that devastated it two years ago. The fate of future cultural events may serve as a barometer for the stability of the peace agreement.
Sources behind this briefing
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- BBC World↗Ethiopia's Virgin Mary festival in Tigray cancelled over drone strike fears
