In a significant development in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, local forces have reportedly taken over the main airport in Mekelle, the regional capital. According to local sources speaking to the BBC, the airport was seized from federal police control. As a result, Ethiopian Airlines has temporarily halted flights to Mekelle, as well as to Shire and Axum, citing the “current situation” in the region.
Escalating Tensions in Tigray
The takeover of the airport comes amid rising tensions between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which administers Tigray. This year has seen increasing friction, raising concerns about a possible return to civil war. The TPLF recently announced an alliance with six other armed groups, aiming to oust the government in Addis Ababa.
The conflict in Tigray, which lasted two years and concluded in November 2022, was one of the deadliest of this century, with an estimated 600,000 casualties. Despite a peace agreement mediated by the African Union, accusations continue between both parties of breaching the deal.
Recent Drone Strikes and Civilian Casualties
The halt in flight operations follows reports of drone strikes in Tigray. Authorities in the region have reported a strike in Alamata, a southern town, where at least 14 individuals were killed and 22 others injured. The town’s mayor, Mogos Shiferaw, described multiple attacks by drones and a fighter jet, causing widespread panic and trauma.
Mogos mentioned that the attacks targeted civilian areas, specifically two secondary schools, on the suspicion that they were being used by Tigrayan forces. However, he clarified that the schools were unoccupied as the academic year had not started. These claims have not been independently verified, and there has been no official response from the Ethiopian government.
International Reactions and Ongoing Challenges
Amid the escalating conflict, the US State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs condemned another drone strike that reportedly targeted a convoy of Catholic vehicles transporting food aid. The Bureau has called for an investigation and urged all parties to engage in dialogue to prevent further violence.
Both the Ethiopian government and TPLF have faced criticism for delays in implementing the Pretoria Agreement, which formally ended the conflict. In recent months, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed accused the TPLF of preparing for renewed hostilities, while the TPLF reinstated its pre-war administration prior to the May general elections. Reports have also emerged of forced recruitment by the TPLF, adding to the region’s instability.
