In Mekele, the capital of the Tigray region, scenes of tension are multiplying as the Tigrayan movement, led by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), launches a campaign of forced recruitment of men of fighting age. This initiative comes amid a continuous deterioration of relations between the TPLF and the Ethiopian federal government led by Abiy Ahmed.

Tigrayan authorities, in response to the escalation of hostilities, have set up roadblocks to stop young men attempting to flee the region. In doing so, they seek not only to strengthen their military capabilities but also to prevent a potential desertion of their forces in the face of intensified fighting.

According to testimonies gathered on the ground, the pressure on young men is palpable. Families find themselves torn between the desire to protect their sons and the social obligation to respond to the call to arms. "We have seen fathers crying as they watched their sons being taken away," reports a resident of Mekele.

This mobilization occurs as Tigray has already been plunged into armed conflict since November 2020, when the federal government launched a military offensive against the TPLF. Since then, the fighting has resulted in thousands of deaths and triggered a major humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by a blockade imposed by Addis Ababa.

Observers point out that these new recruits may not be fully prepared for the upcoming battles. "It is difficult to assess the mindset and military preparedness of these new recruits," indicates a regional conflict expert. "What is certain is that the situation is only getting worse."

In this already tense climate, calls for ethnic mobilization are also multiplying from the government side. Regions such as Oromia and Amhara have been solicited to send troops to counter the Tigrayan advance, which could further exacerbate ethnic divisions within the country.

Tigray thus remains at the heart of a war that threatens not only its internal stability but also that of Ethiopia as a whole. The humanitarian consequences are already catastrophic, and the international community continues to call for a de-escalation of violence.