Tigray Church Cries Out: The Killing of Brothers Must Stop as Ethiopia Spirals Toward War

Tigray Orthodox Church Leaders Plead for Ceasefire as Ethiopia Faces Renewed Conflict

Religious and civil society leaders in Ethiopia's Tigray region have issued an urgent appeal for peace as sporadic clashes continue across the northern region, raising fears of a devastating new humanitarian crisis.

The appeal, made public on February 9 through a statement sent to Agenzia Fides, called on all combatants to immediately cease hostilities and pursue dialogue to prevent further civilian suffering.

The Tigray Orthodox Tewahedo Church, one of the oldest Christian institutions in Africa, was among the faith groups that issued the call.

The killing of brothers by brothers must stop.

declared the Tigray Orthodox Tewahedo Church, characterizing the ongoing loss of life as intolerable.

The Tigray Public Diplomacy Forum also launched a plea under the banner "Let us stop the War: let us return to dialogue," reiterating an earlier appeal from February 1, 2026. The Forum urged civic associations, religious leaders, community elders, and all stakeholders to intensify mediation efforts and bring fighters and their leaders to the negotiating table.

Fighting has been reported in areas including Tselemti and Laelay Tselemti, involving heavy weaponry. Clashes erupted on January 29, 2026, between the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and Ethiopian government forces. By January 30, Tigrayan forces had captured the towns of Alamata and Korem in Southern Tigray after Ethiopian forces withdrew.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk warned that escalating clashes between the Ethiopian National Defence Force and Tigray Security Forces could worsen conditions for millions of civilians already facing displacement and food insecurity.

Ethiopia's Tigray Crisis Deepens as Christian Leaders Demand Peace and Dialogue

The Tigray region endured a devastating civil war from 2020 to 2022 between Ethiopia's federal forces and the TPLF. The Pretoria Peace Agreement, signed in November 2022, was supposed to bring permanent peace, but political fragmentation within the TPLF and divisions between regional and federal authorities have prevented full implementation.

More than 760,000 people remain internally displaced, unable to return home or reclaim their lands. One third of the region remains occupied by Eritrean or Amhara forces, and many residents do not feel safe returning. Humanitarian groups have sounded the alarm that a return to widespread conflict could be catastrophic.

The Crusader's Opinion

The Tigray Orthodox Tewahedo Church has stood as a beacon of Christianity in Africa for nearly two thousand years. When its leaders cry out that "the killing of brothers by brothers must stop," the world should stop and listen. These are not politicians seeking power. These are shepherds watching their flock be slaughtered. More than 760,000 Christians displaced, ancient churches desecrated, and the international community offers nothing but empty words. If this were happening to any other religious group, every Western government would be mobilized. The silence when Christians suffer is deafening, and that silence is complicity.

Take Action

• Donate: Support displaced Tigrayan Christians through The Shepherd's Shield, which provides direct aid to persecuted believers worldwide.
• Donate: Give to Open Doors or Voice of the Martyrs to support persecuted Christians in the Horn of Africa.
• Contact Your Representatives: Call or email your congressional representatives and demand that U.S. foreign policy address the crisis in Tigray and protect religious freedom in Ethiopia.
• Pray: Join in prayer for the Tigray Orthodox Tewahedo Church and all displaced Christians in the region. Pray for the success of peace negotiations and the protection of civilians.
• Share: Spread this story on social media and ask why mainstream outlets remain silent about the suffering of African Christians caught in conflict.