Why is Ethiopia on the brink of civil war?

Ethiopia appears on the brink of civil war after PM Abiy Ahmed ordered a military offensive following an alleged attack on an army base in Tigray by forces loyal to the local government.

The current round of tensions started after the federal government stopped funding for Tigray in October. Tigray had conducted elections in defiance of federal government in September

According to The  Guardian, The TPLF dominated Ethiopia’s government before Abiy took office in 2018, but its power has since waned.

Abiy’s government launched military operations in Tigray on Wednesday, after he accused the TPLF of attacking a military camp in the region and attempting to loot military assets. The TPLF denies the attack and has accused Abiy of concocting the story to justify deploying the military.

The conflict could spread to other parts of Ethiopia, where some regions have been calling for more autonomy, and deadly ethnic violence has led the federal government to restore measures including arresting critics.