Tigrayan rebel forces have seized control of the Alula Aba Nega Airport in Mekelle, the regional capital of Tigray, according to security and local sources. This takeover on Wednesday comes amidst rising tensions with the federal government and raises fears of a return to the devastating civil war that killed an estimated 600,000 people between 2020 and 2022.
Following the airport's seizure, Ethiopian Airlines, the national carrier, has suspended all flights to Mekelle and other locations in the Tigray region, including Axum and Shire. Flight Radar data showed that the scheduled Wednesday morning flight between Mekelle and the federal capital, Addis Ababa, was canceled. An employee at Alula Aba Nega Airport confirmed that staff were told to return home because the airport had been taken over by Tigray forces.
The TPLF, which controls the Tigray region, was recently announced as a member of a new alliance of anti-government armed groups from across Ethiopia. The federal government considers the current Tigrayan authorities illegitimate, and the control of Mekelle airport is strategically significant as it is the primary aerial gateway to the region, controlling the flow of people and goods, and symbolizing territorial sovereignty. The situation has implications for humanitarian aid delivery and the movement of civilians in the conflict-affected region.
