Tigray is the northernmost regional state in Ethiopia, serving as the homeland for the Tigrayan, Irob, and Kunama people. Mekelle is its capital and largest city. Tigray ranks as the fifth-largest by area, fourth-most populous, and fifth-most densely populated among Ethiopia's 11 regional states. It shares borders with Eritrea to the north, the Amhara Region to the south, the Afar Region to the east, and Sudan to the west.
Ethiopia alleges Eritrea and TPLF are planning a 'major offensive' during the rainy season, further escalating regional tensions. The Horn of Africa faces continued instability with Ethiopia's accusations and territorial disputes.
In 1943, a rebellion emerged across southern and eastern Tigray with the slogan "there is no government; let's organize and govern ourselves". Local assemblies were formed, and a central congress was established.
In February 1974, the Ethiopian Revolution started. The first signal of mass uprising was the actions of the soldiers of the 4th Brigade of the 4th Army Division in Nagelle in southern Ethiopia.
On June 28, 1974, the Coordinating Committee of the Armed Forces, Police, and Territorial Army, known as the Derg, was officially announced by a group of military officers.
In July 1974, the Derg obtained key concessions from Emperor Haile Selassie, including the power to arrest military officers and government officials.
In August 1974, after a proposed constitution creating a constitutional monarchy, the Derg started dismantling the imperial government.
On September 12, 1974, the Derg deposed and imprisoned Emperor Haile Selassie.
In 1975, the Derg nationalized most industries and private urban real-estate holdings.
In October 1978, the Derg announced the National Revolutionary Development Campaign to transform the economy.
In 1984, the Derg launched a Ten-Year Plan (1984/85–1993/94) to expand agricultural and industrial output.
Since its founding in 1989, the EPRDF—which included the TPLF as dominant member—held control over Ethiopia’s ethnic‑federal system.
Toward the end of January 1991, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) captured Gondar, Bahar Dar, and Dessie.
After the end of the 1991 civil war, an important aspect of agricultural work in Tigray was to minimize the problems of drought by reforesting the region to improve rainfall and reduce soil erosion.
From 1991 to 2001, Gebru Asrat was the president of Tigray.
The Ten-Year Plan, launched in 1984, concluded in 1993, showing a decline of 0.8% in per capita income over the period.
In the 1994 census, the Tigray region's population was 3,136,267, with 1,542,165 men and 1,594,102 women. Urban inhabitants numbered 621,210, representing 14% of the population.
In 1998, war broke out between Eritrea and Ethiopia over territory administered as part of Tigray.
Around 2000 BC, there is evidence of a Semitic-speaking presence in Tigray, Eritrea and northern Ethiopia. It is now believed that Sabaean influence was minor, limited to a few localities and disappearing after a few decades or a century.
Between April 2001 and December 2010, Tsegay Berhe of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) served as President of the Tigray Region.
From 1991 to 2001, Gebru Asrat was the president of Tigray.
In 2002, the United Nations awarded much of the disputed land to Eritrea.
According to the CSA, as of 2004, 54.0% of Tigray's population had access to safe drinking water; 42.7% of which were rural inhabitants and 97.3% of which were urban.
As of 2005, 31.6% of Tigray's inhabitants fell into the lowest wealth quintile; adult literacy for men was 67.5% and for women 33.7%; and the infant mortality rate was 67 infant deaths per 1,000 live births.
In 2005, it was estimated that farmers in Tigray had 2,713,750 cattle, 72,640 sheep, 208,970 goats, 1,200 horses, 9,190 mules, 386,600 asses, 32,650 camels, 3,180,240 poultry, and 20,480 beehives.
In 2005, the national parliamentary elections marked a turning point; serious opposition gains were met with strong government crackdowns.
A 2006 national statistics report stated the land area of Tigray as 50,079 km (19,336 sq mi).
Based on the 2007 census, the Tigray Region had a population of 4,316,988, with 2,126,465 men and 2,190,523 women. Urban inhabitants numbered 844,040, representing 19.6% of the population. The region had an estimated density of 51 people per km.
In 2009, approximately 80% of Tigray's population were farmers, contributing 46% to the regional gross domestic product.
In December 2010, Abay Weldu succeeded Tsegay Berhe as President of the Tigray Region.
The 2011 National Statistics gave an area of Tigray as 41,410 km (15,990 sq mi), but the sum of the figures it gave for the Tigray zones was substantially different, rendering the 2011 report internally inconsistent.
From September 2012 to November 2017, Abay Weldu led the TPLF, concurrently serving as regional president.
In 2016, protests erupted demanding reforms and challenging the longstanding one‑party dominance.
From September 2012 to November 2017, Abay Weldu led the TPLF, concurrently serving as regional president.
In 2017, protests continued demanding reforms and challenging the longstanding one‑party dominance.
Abay Weldu served as regional president from 2010 until January 2018.
In 2018 and 2019, after multiple village discussions, 21 independent urban administrations were added and other boundaries re-drawn.
In 2018 and 2019, woredas were reorganised as part of a reform to deepen decentralisation.
In 2018, Mekelle 70 Enderta F.C. was a member of the Ethiopian Football Federation and played in the Ethiopian Premier League.
In 2018, a bilateral agreement ended the border conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia, with Ethiopia accepting the 2002 UN ruling.
In 2018 and 2019, after multiple village discussions that were often vigorous in the more remote areas, 21 independent urban administrations were added and other boundaries re-drawn
In 2018 and 2019, after multiple village discussions, 21 independent urban administrations were added and other boundaries re-drawn.
In 2019, Mekelle 70 Enderta F.C. won its first Ethiopian Premier League title.
In January 2020 the re-drawing of boundaries and addition of urban administrations resulted in an increase from 35 to 94 woredas.
In January 2020, the number of woredas increased from 35 to 88 after the addition of 21 independent urban administrations and the redrawing of other boundaries.
Up to January 2020, Tigray was subdivided into administrative zones, and further into woredas or districts.
In November 2020, a conflict erupted between the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Ethiopian federal government, supported by Eritrea, escalating into the Tigray War and destabilizing the region.
Following the 2020 Tigray regional election, on November 4, after the attacks by TDF, the Ethiopian and Eritrean militaries launched counterattacks.
In 2020, Mekele City, Suhul Shire, and Adigrat University football clubs were Tigray-based clubs participating in the Ethiopian Premier League.
In 2020, Tigray withdrew its representatives from the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia House of Peoples' Representatives due to the postponement of the national election.
By January 2021, warfare, the COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia, and a locust outbreak contributed to an emergency food situation in the Tigray region, with approximately two million people facing food shortages.
In 2021, Mekele City, Suhul Shire and Adigrat University football clubs, participating in the Ethiopian Premier League, were replaced due to the war.
In November 2022, a peace agreement led to the formation of an interim administration in the Tigray region.
As of 2023, the Tigray region is governed by the Interim Regional Administration of Tigray.
In 2023, Getachew Reda Kahsay, a TPLF member, was appointed as the Chief Administrator of the Interim Regional Administration of Tigray.
In 2025, tensions resurfaced as Tigray’s interim president fled to Addis Ababa after a faction seized control, sparking fears of renewed conflict.
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