Human Rights Watch urges civilian protection as northern Ethiopia fighting resumes

Human Rights Watch urged the parties fighting in northern Ethiopia to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure on September 24, 2026, and called for an immediate international response to reduce the risk of further abuses.

In a statement issued in Nairobi, the organisation said fighting between Ethiopia’s military and forces aligned with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front had erupted in Tigray, Amhara and Afar on September 22. It placed the renewed hostilities after reported clashes and airstrikes in Tigray since August, including in Mekelle. [Human Rights Watch statement](https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/09/24/ethiopia-renewed-tigray-fighting-shows-need-to-protect-civilians)

Laetitia Bader, the organisation’s deputy Africa director, said past atrocities and a lack of accountability heightened the danger to civilians. She urged international actors to support close monitoring of the armed parties’ conduct, as well as measures to protect people. [Human Rights Watch](https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/09/24/ethiopia-renewed-tigray-fighting-shows-need-to-protect-civilians)

The statement is an appeal for preventive action. It does not provide a casualty count for the renewed fighting or establish responsibility for specific new attacks on civilians.

Source provenance: [Human Rights Watch, carried by AllAfrica on September 24, 2026](https://allafrica.com/stories/202609240375.html), checked against the organisation’s original statement.