Crisis in Tigray
Ethiopia—a landlocked, drought-
susceptible country with a fragile
federal structure—is plagued by a civil
war between the national government
and the Tigray People’s Liberation
Front (TPLF). Early gains last year by
the national army, aided by Eritrean
soldiers and Amhara militias, came with
reports of ethnic cleansing and sexual
violence. Now famine is looming—and
Tigrayans are on the offensive.
EUR.
ASIA
AFRICA
ETHIOPIA
An unsteady federation
A 1994 constitution structured Ethiopia
into nine (now 10) regional states
predominantly based on ethnicity. The
TPLF controlled the repressive central
government for 27 years; widespread
protests led to the election of new
leadership in 2018. Attempts by the
new government to centralize power
have led to regional resistance.
Major ethnic groups
(share of population, 2016)†
Oromo (35%)
Amhara (28%)
Tigrayan (7%)
Sidama (4%)
Somali (3%)
Afar (1%)
80 other groups (21%)
Map shows ethnic majority or
plurality as of latest census in 2007.
†Does not total 100% due to rounding
Tigray
Afar
Amhara
BInshangul
Gumuz
Addis
Ababa
Ethiopia
Oromia
Somali
SIDAMA
Gambela
peoples
Southern
Nations,
Nationalities,
and Peoples
Rosemary Wardley, NGM Staff. Scott Elder.
Sources: Population and Housing Census
2007, Ethiopian Central Statistics Agency;
Regional Bureau of Finance and
Economic Development; OCHA; The CIA
World Factbook, 2021; Yohannes
Woldermariam, George Mason University;
Tsega Etefa, Colgate University;
Crisis in Tigray
Ethiopia—a landlocked, drought-susceptible country with a fragile federal structure
—is plagued by a civil war between the national government and the Tigray People’s
Liberation Front (TPLF). Early gains last year by the national army, aided by Eritrean
soldiers and Amhara militias, came with reports of ethnic cleansing and sexual
violence. Now famine is looming—and Tigrayans are on the offensive.
An unsteady federation
Major ethnic groups
(share of population, 2016)†
A 1994 constitution structured Ethiopia
into nine (now 10) regional states
predominantly based on ethnicity. The
TPLF controlled the repressive central
government for 27 years; widespread
protests led to the election of new
leadership in 2018. Attempts by the new
government to centralize power have
led to regional resistance.
Oromo (35%)
Amhara (28%)
Tigrayan (7%)
Sidama (4%)
Somali (3%)
Afar (1%)
80 other groups (21%)
Map shows ethnic majority or
plurality as of latest census in 2007.
†Does not total 100% due to rounding
Tigray
Mekele
Afar
Amhara
Semera
Bahir Dar
BInshangul
Gumuz
Dire Dawa
Asosa
Addis
Ababa
Jijiga
Harar
Gambela
Ethiopia
Gambela
peoples
Awasa
Oromia
Southern
Nations,
Nationalities,
and Peoples
Somali
SIDAMA
100 mi
100 km
Rosemary Wardley, NGM Staff. Scott Elder.
Sources: Population and Housing Census 2007, Ethiopian Central Statistics Agency;
Regional Bureau of Finance and Economic Development; OCHA; The CIA World
Factbook, 2021; Yohannes Woldermariam, George Mason University; Tsega Etefa,
Colgate University
Crisis in Tigray
Ethiopia—a landlocked, drought-susceptible country with a fragile federal structure—
is plagued by a civil war between the national government and the Tigray People’s
Liberation Front (TPLF). Early gains last year by the national army, aided by Eritrean
soldiers and Amhara militias, came with reports of ethnic cleansing and sexual
violence. Now famine is looming—and Tigrayans are on the offensive.
An unsteady federation
A 1994 constitution structured Ethiopia into nine (now 10)
regional states predominantly based on ethnicity. The
TPLF controlled the repressive central government for 27
years; widespread protests led to the election of new
leadership in 2018. Attempts by the new government to
centralize power have led to regional resistance.
Tigray
Mekele
Afar
Amhara
Semera
Bahir Dar
BInshangul
Gumuz
Major ethnic groups
(share of population, 2016)†
Dire Dawa
Asosa
Addis
Ababa
Oromo (35%)
Jijiga
Amhara (28%)
Harar
Gambela
Tigrayan (7%)
Ethiopia
Gambela
peoples
Sidama (4%)
Awasa
Oromia
Somali (3%)
Southern
Nations,
Nationalities,
and Peoples
Somali
SIDAMA
Afar (1%)
80 other groups (21%)
Map shows ethnic majority or
plurality as of latest census in 2007.
100 mi
†Does not total 100% due to rounding
100 km
Rosemary Wardley, NGM Staff. Scott Elder.
Sources: Population and Housing Census 2007, Ethiopian Central Statistics Agency;
Regional Bureau of Finance and Economic Development; OCHA; The CIA World
Factbook, 2021; Yohannes Woldermariam, George Mason University; Tsega Etefa,
Colgate University