Inflicting suffering on millions in the region won’t solve the wider dispute between ethnic nationalism and the state

When Ethiopia’s government under prime minister Abiy Ahmed launched a military offensive to dislodge the Tigray region’s dissident leadership, he promised a rapid surgical operation.

The war, which began on 3 November as the world was focused on the US election, has instead come at a staggering cost. There is no end in sight. Millions of Tigrayans are now in dire need of assistance.

Related: Scale of Tigray horror adds to pressure on Ethiopian leader

William Davison is senior analyst for Ethiopia at the International Crisis Group

This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.