Ethiopia: Amhara–Tigray Relations in the Shadows of the Civil War (2020–2022) in North Wollo

The Amhara and Tigray communities share a strong bond based on geographic proximity, religious affiliation, related means of livelihood, shared cultural practices, and economic interdependence. Yet, the relationship between the two communities has long been affected by power rivalry among their respective elites. The post-2018 politico-economic struggle for control of state power ultimately triggered the onset of the Ethiopian civil war (2020–2022). This article empirically investigates how the territorial expansion of the Ethiopian civil war impacted ethnic relationships between the Amhara and Tigray communities in North Wollo (NW), drawing theoretical insights from theories of ethnicity. Employing primary and secondary qualitative data, the study revealed that the three-decadeslong practice of ethnic-based federalism championed by Tigrayan elites engendered ethnic-based affiliation among younger generations, who primarily identified themselves with an ethnic identity. This eventually deteriorated Amhara–Tigray community relations due to three interrelated factors: local violence in NW, factors associated with the 2018 political reform, and the advent and territorial expansion of the Ethiopian civil war. The civil war, primarily driven by elite interests, resulted in a lack of trust, diminished social relationships, and growing suspicion between members of the two communities. Unless genuine people-to-people reconciliation is conducted, the elite-driven rift between the two communities will further worsen the socio-economic interactions of the local populations. Keywords: Amhara–Tigray, ethnic-based administration, ethnic identity, Ethiopian Civil War, TPLF.