The Tigrayans, who have been in conflict with the government for the past year, have teamed up with another rebel group as they move towards the capital, Addis Ababa. According to foreign officials observing the conflict, it appears that several Ethiopian army units have either collapsed or withdrawn. The declaration of a state of emergency demonstrates the rapidly shifting situation in a growing conflict that threatens to divide Ethiopia, the second-most populous country in Africa. This development also represents another setback for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate whose global standing has been damaged by a war that has resulted in reports of human rights abuses, massacres, and famine. A year ago, on November 4, Abiy launched a military offensive in the Tigray region in an attempt to defeat the regional ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front, his main political adversary. However, despite initially pledging a quick and nonviolent operation, Abiy became embroiled in a complex military situation. The Ethiopian military faced a significant setback in June, leading to their retreat from Tigray and the capture of thousands of soldiers. Currently, the conflict is approaching Abiy's doorstep, with Tigrayan rebels seizing control of Dessie and Kombolcha in recent days. According to a United Nations official, Tigrayan forces were observed advancing south from Kombolcha on Tuesday. During the state of emergency, Abiy possesses extensive authority to apprehend and confine dissenters, enforce curfews, and control the media. Justice Minister Gedion Timothewos mentioned at a press briefing that any adult citizen could be summoned to participate in the conflict. Those in possession of weapons will be required to surrender them to the authorities. The government declared that the state of emergency would be in effect for six months. Prior to this announcement, the Addis Ababa city administration had urged residents to utilize their weapons for the protection of their communities. It was stated that house-to-house searches were being carried out to locate Tigrayan supporters. This announcement increased anxiety in the city, where tensions were rising due to reports of Tigrayan military progress. A taxi driver named Dereje, hesitant to disclose his full name in the city's tense atmosphere, expressed his intention to participate in the conflict. He stated, "I will not stay at home and wait for the enemy. I will defend my children and my country." In contrast, a teacher, who chose not to reveal his identity, mentioned that he had lost trust in the Ethiopian government. “He told us a lie that the TPLF had been defeated,” he said, in reference to the Tigray People's Liberation Front. “I am extremely concerned about what will happen. May God assist us.” President Joe Biden, who has threatened to impose sanctions on Ethiopia unless it takes steps towards peace negotiations, announced on Tuesday that he would withdraw trade privileges for Ethiopia, which includes duty-free access to the United States, due to “serious violations of internationally recognized human rights.” In a separate briefing, Jeffrey Feltman, the Biden administration’s representative to the Horn of Africa, warned that the escalating conflict could have “catastrophic consequences” for Ethiopia's unity and its relationship with the United States. Ethiopian soldiers who were defeated are paraded through Mekelle after the Tigray Defence Forces captured the regional capital on June 25, 2021. Billene Seyoum, a spokesperson for Abiy, did not provide a comment when requested. Ethiopian soldiers who were defeated are being marched through Mekelle after the Tigray Defence Forces took control of the regional capital on June 25, 2021. The decision to revoke trade privileges, according to Ethiopia's Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration, will have a negative impact on the country's economy and unfairly affect women and children. Ethiopia is determined to hold those responsible for serious human rights violations accountable. The escalating situation in Ethiopia has raised concerns in the region, with fears that the conflict could spread to neighboring countries like Kenya or result in a refugee crisis. Prime Minister Abiy, once praised by the West for winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019, has faced increasing criticism as the war in Tigray has expanded beyond the region. Much of the recent criticism has focused on Ethiopia's severe blockade of Tigray, which has hindered the delivery of food and medicine to a population where 5.2 million people are in urgent need of assistance and 400,000 are facing famine-like conditions, according to the United Nations. After the United States threatened Abiy's government with sanctions in September, he accused the West of neocolonial bias and expelled seven senior UN officials, including a humanitarian aid coordinator in Tigray. Recently, the Ethiopian military launched an offensive against Tigrayan forces, which escalated to include airstrikes on the region's besieged capital, Mekelle. Abiy has blamed his recent defeats on unidentified foreigners he claims are fighting alongside the Tigrayans, stating that individuals of non-Ethiopian descent have taken part in the conflict. In Addis Ababa, security forces have begun targeting ethnic Tigrayans, sparking concerns of ethnically motivated reprisals in the capital city as the rebels approach. Efforts from the international community to bring the opposing sides to the negotiating table have been unsuccessful. Prime Minister Abiy has continued military operations despite evidence showing his army is struggling. The Tigrayans claim they are fighting against a siege that is causing suffering in their region. Gen Tsadkan Gebretensae, the rebels' top strategist, expressed dissatisfaction with Western pressure on Abiy, calling it minimal. Human rights groups have accused Tigrayan fighters of abuses, including the killing of Eritrean refugees, although not as widespread as Ethiopian troops. The Ethiopian government has accused Tigrayan fighters of killing residents in Kombolcha recently without providing any evidence. The fighters have been moving south into the Amhara region since July, engaging in a fierce battle that has been largely hidden from view due to internet blackouts and reporting restrictions. The recent capture of Dessie and Kombolcha over the weekend marked a significant development in the conflict, as these towns are strategically located on a key highway running from north to south that is crucial in determining the outcome of the war in Ethiopia. The Tigrayans have joined forces with the Oromo Liberation Army, a smaller rebel group advocating for the rights of the Oromo, Ethiopia's largest ethnic group. After years of fighting in rural areas, the OLA now appears to be making inroads into Ethiopia's urban centers. Odaa Tarbii, a representative of the OLA, announced on Tuesday that they had taken control of a town located 120 miles north of Addis Ababa and planned to move south with the Tigrayans in the next two or three days. Throughout much of the conflict, Abiy was supported by Eritrea, whose soldiers were accused of committing severe atrocities against civilians in Tigray. However, in recent weeks, Eritrea has not been involved in the fighting for reasons that remain unclear, according to Tigrayan and Western officials. Getachew Reda, a spokesperson for the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, stated that the Ethiopian military was in disarray as it retreated south, leaving behind armed ethnic militias. This account was confirmed by two Western officials who spoke on condition of anonymity due to diplomatic concerns. If the Tigrayans continue advancing towards the south, officials believe that Abiy will face significant pressure from both within his political camp and on the battlefield.