Local forces in Ethiopia’s Tigray region have taken over Mekelle Airport from federal police, residents have reported, prompting the suspension of air services to the area.
Ethiopian Airlines said it had halted flights to Mekelle, Shire and Axum due to the “current situation” in Tigray, where tensions between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) have intensified.
The development has raised concerns about a possible return to armed conflict, nearly four years after a two-year war in the region ended with a peace agreement in November 2022.
The TPLF, which controls the regional administration, announced on Sunday that it had joined forces with six armed groups seeking to remove the government in Addis Ababa.
The latest unrest comes amid accusations from both the federal authorities and the TPLF that the other side has breached provisions of the African Union-backed Pretoria peace agreement.
The previous conflict was among the deadliest wars of the century, with an African Union mediator estimating that about 600,000 people lost their lives.
The fighting also left millions facing severe humanitarian conditions and the threat of famine.
The latest flight disruption follows several alleged drone attacks across Tigray.
In Alamata, a town in southern Tigray, at least 14 people were reportedly killed and 22 others wounded in a drone strike on Tuesday, according to regional officials.
Mayor Mogos Shiferaw told the BBC that more than five drones and a fighter aircraft conducted over 21 attacks from about 3:30 a.m.
He said the strikes caused widespread fear among residents and resulted in significant psychological distress.
According to the mayor, all those killed or injured were civilians. He alleged that federal forces targeted two secondary schools because of suspicions that they were being used by Tigrayan fighters.
The schools, which had previously been occupied by federal troops during the conflict, were reportedly empty because the new academic term had not started.
On Wednesday, Tigrayan authorities accused the federal government of launching an open assault on the region and called on residents to remain united behind regional forces.
The United States also condemned another reported drone incident, saying a convoy of Catholic vehicles transporting humanitarian supplies was targeted on Monday.
The US State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs called for an investigation and urged the opposing sides to settle their differences through negotiations while taking measures to prevent further attacks.
The Pretoria Agreement has faced implementation difficulties, with both the Ethiopian government and TPLF leadership coming under criticism over delays in fulfilling important aspects of the deal.
In July, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed told parliament that the TPLF was making preparations for another conflict.
The TPLF also restored its former regional administration shortly before the May general election, replacing an interim structure established by the federal government.
Meanwhile, reports have emerged alleging that Tigrayan forces have been compelling young men to join their ranks, adding to concerns over renewed mobilisation in the region.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong