- Fighting broke out on Wednesday between Tigrayan forces and Ethiopia's federal troops, marking a significant escalation in violence.
- Tigrayan forces seized three airports controlled by the federal government, with fighting also reported in Amhara and Afar regions.
- Internet and phone networks were disrupted in Tigray on Friday, with Ethio Telecom services completely cut and Safaricom partially operational.
- NetBlocks confirmed the internet disruption, indicating a sub-national internet shutdown in northern Tigray.
- Residents reported panic-buying and cash shortages as a result of the ongoing conflict.
- The UN and EU have called for restraint and a return to the African Union-brokered peace process.
- During the two-year civil war which ended in 2022, Tigray was totally cut off from the outside world, leading to severe humanitarian crises.
- Limited access to cash, food, and medicine pushed hundreds of thousands into famine-like conditions during the previous conflict.
- The shutdown has sparked fears of a return to the dire conditions experienced during the 2020-2022 war.
Internet and phone services have been severely disrupted in Ethiopia's Tigray region as fighting escalates between federal troops and Tigrayan forces, raising fears of a humanitarian crisis reminiscent of the 2020-2022 civil war.12
State-owned Ethio Telecom has completely cut off services, while private operator Safaricom has limited connectivity. "Last night telecommunications got knocked out," said Duke Burbridge, a humanitarian worker in Tigray's capital, Mekelle. "The lack of internet services would be devastating for everybody."
The renewed violence has led to panic buying, with residents rushing to stores to stock up on essentials. "Shelves were being emptied from panic-buying," a local reported. The situation has been exacerbated by a long-standing cash scarcity, with many unable to access ATMs.5
The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has reportedly ordered the shutdown of telecommunications to neutralize the federal government's advantage in using drones on the battlefield. "Currently, TPLF fighters are still going house to house in search of youths," a resident of Maichew town told Reuters.9
The fighting, which began this week, marks a significant escalation since the civil war ended in 2022, with Tigrayan forces seizing three airports controlled by the federal government. "Tigray’s regional government federal forces attacked first and that it ordered its forces to respond, calling it a 'defensive war,'" said a TPLF spokesperson.
The situation remains fluid, with fears that the humanitarian conditions could deteriorate further as access to food, cash, and medical supplies becomes increasingly restricted.
“The shutdown has sparked fears of a return to famine-like conditions, as residents face cash shortages and limited access to food and medicine. The TPLF ordered the telecom cut, possibly to neutralize government drone advantage, while the UN and EU urged a return to the AU-brokered peace process.”
BBC
