Ethiopia has established a six-month caretaker administration to oversee the Tigray region following renewed clashes that have undermined the 2022 peace agreement ending a two-year conflict. The caretaker government, appointed by the federal authorities, is tasked with restoring public services, facilitating the return of displaced residents, and preparing for regional elections within its mandate period, according to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office.

This development came after the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) withdrew from the regional capital, Mekelle, on October 4, allowing government-aligned forces to enter the city. The renewed fighting has reversed much of the progress made under the peace accord, deepening instability in northern Ethiopia. The government has further accused Eritrean military forces of occupying parts of Ethiopian territory near Tigray, a charge Eritrea vehemently denied, calling Ethiopia’s statements a declaration of war.

At Mekelle’s Tigray Martyrs’ Memorial Monument, hundreds of former combatants began registering on Wednesday for a reintegration program aimed at helping fighters transition back to civilian life. Officials have not disclosed the exact number of registrants. Some former fighters expressed reluctance to resume hostilities despite pressure from the TPLF. Filmon Gebreselassie, a 33-year-old resident and former combatant, said he chose to disarm after the initial peace deal and intends to focus on raising his children rather than rejoin the fighting.

However, many young men at the registration site declined to speak openly due to fears of reprisal from the TPLF. The TPLF condemned Tigrayans cooperating with federal authorities as “traitors” in an October 14 statement posted on its official Facebook page and promised “accountability and public judgment” for collaborators. Human Rights Watch reported earlier in the year that Tigrayan authorities enforced compulsory recruitment to bolster TPLF forces, though the group has described those fighting as volunteers.

The reintegration of former fighters is a core component of the 2022 peace agreement, which the federal government claims the TPLF has obstructed, leading to renewed hostilities. In response to recent setbacks, the TPLF has called on its forces to continue resisting and urged the Tigrayan population to offer support.

Observers caution against interpreting recent government territorial gains as a definitive end to the conflict. Magnus Taylor, deputy Horn of Africa director at the International Crisis Group, noted that while capturing urban centers and key routes impairs TPLF operations, the group could continue to operate from dispersed rural areas where it has historically regrouped.

The ongoing tension has ramifications beyond Ethiopia’s borders. Eritrea’s alleged military presence in contested areas, which could not be independently confirmed, raises concerns about escalating regional conflict. The close positioning of Ethiopian and Eritrean troops increases the danger of a broader confrontation. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged restraint and de-escalation in discussions with Prime Minister Abiy last week.

The war in Tigray, which lasted from 2020 to 2022 and involved Eritrean forces supporting Ethiopia, resulted in an estimated 500,000 civilian deaths due to violence, famine, and disrupted health services, according to research from Ghent University. The recent flare-ups threaten to reverse hard-won peace and deepen humanitarian challenges in the region.