Ethiopia Conflict: Deadliest War of the 21st Century

An estimated 600,000 civilians died in Ethiopia’s civil war between November 2020 and August 2022, according to researcher Jan Nyssen. This makes it the deadliest war of the 21st century.

• Conflict broke out in Ethiopia in November 2020 after the Tigray People’s Liberation Front challenged Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali’s government.
• For two years, the conflict has raged, resulting in bombings, massacres and blockades of humanitarian aid.
• A ceasefire was signed on Nov. 2, 2022.
• In December, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell stated that total casualties could be anywhere between 600,000 and 800,000.
• In comparison, the United Nations estimates that 7,000 civilians have died in the Ukraine war since Feb. 24, 2022.

Casualties:

• 10 percent of the deaths have been caused by bombings and massacres.
• 30 percent have died due to lack of medical attention and shortages of health centers.
• 60 percent have starved to death.

According to Nyssen, “Hunger was used as a weapon of war.”

Rumors of war: When Jesus Christ’s disciples asked what the sign of the end time would be, Christ told them, “[Y]e shall hear of wars and rumours of wars …” (Matthew 24:6). One indication of the end of the age would be that wars and news of them would be common. However, Christ continued in verse 6, “[S]ee that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass ….” This wasn’t just a warning of the time of the end but also a “sign of [Christ’s] coming” (verse 3).

The end of this world will lead immediately to the beginning of a new world! If you see the dangers in the world around you—and if you believe the Bible—you can also know that there is hope: Jesus Christ is about to return.
—Joel Hilliker, Trumpet managing editor, “Are We in the End Time?”

Learn more: Read Libya and Ethiopia in Prophecy.