Tigrayan forces have reportedly seized control of the airports in Mekelle, Axum, and Shire, the regional capital and two other key cities in Tigray. This action led to Ethiopian Airlines, the national carrier, announcing the suspension of all flights to these three northern airports due to the "current situation" in the Tigray region. The move highlights the escalating tensions and fears of a return to full-scale conflict in Ethiopia, following a devastating civil war that ended in November 2022.
The renewed hostilities come after the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the ruling party of Tigray, announced on Sunday that it had formed an alliance with six other armed groups across Ethiopia. The stated goal of this alliance is to overthrow the government in Addis Ababa, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. This development has shattered the fragile peace established by the Pretoria Peace Agreement, which formally ended the two-year conflict in 2022.
The previous war, which lasted from 2020 to 2022, was one of the deadliest conflicts of the century, with estimates from the African Union's mediator suggesting around 600,000 people died. The fighting also brought the region to the brink of famine. Both the federal government and the TPLF are now accusing each other of violating the peace deal, leading to an uneasy calm that held until late 2025, when clashes reportedly resumed. The current seizure of airports and suspension of flights underscore a significant escalation in the conflict, raising concerns for the region's stability and humanitarian situation.
