Why are the UAE, Sudan and Egypt fighting for influence inside Ethiopia’s Tigray state?

Fighting has continued across the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia, after a coalition of rebel groups seized territory in September.

The government, which the insurgents have vowed to overthrow, has managed to contain much of the fighting, although explosions were heard in Addis Ababa in October.

Tigray is no stranger to conflict. Amid accusations of war crimes and genocide, hundreds of thousands of people were killed and millions more displaced during the civil war from 2020-22.

But now there are fears that the current conflict could escalate into a war between Ethiopia and neighbouring Eritrea, which it accuses of backing the rebels. The two countries severed relations in October.