Ethiopia Accuses TPLF and Eritrea of Supporting Fano Militias

The Government of Ethiopia has accused the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the government of Eritrea of coordinating to support Fano, an Amhara nationalist militia, in operations against the state. In October 2025, the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the United Nations that the TPLF and Eritrea financed and directed Fano forces during a September attempt to seize the city of Weldiya.

Debretsion Gebremichael, leader of the TPLF, rejected the claims as "fabricated stories and smear campaigns" designed to hide the federal government's failure to honor previous peace agreements. The government of Eritrea also denied the accusations, calling them "false and blatantly fabricated" and claiming Ethiopia is actually seeking access to the port of Assab.

This diplomatic breakdown follows a volatile history where the TPLF, Eritrea, and Fano were previously aligned or opposed during the 2020-2022 war. Current tensions are further exacerbated by clashes in western Tigray and disputes over the continued presence of Eritrean forces on Ethiopian soil.