The fragile peace in Ethiopia is shattering as the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) launches a fresh offensive against the national government. Fighting erupted this week, leading to the seizure of three airports by rebel forces and prompting a swift response from federal troops, including drone strikes near Abala.
As the TPLF attempts to challenge the central government, the resulting instability has forced the cancellation of all flights to the region and left residents in a state of panic. The conflict has already resulted in a significant telecommunications blackout, with state-owned Ethio Telecom services severed, reportedly to hinder federal drone operations.
This disruption is compounding an existing humanitarian crisis, as residents in Mekelle struggle with a severe lack of cash and limited access to essential banking services. The TPLF, which recently announced an alliance with six other armed groups in a brazen attempt to oust the government, has yet to offer a formal explanation for the blackout.
With clashes spreading to the Amhara region and near the historic site of Lalibela, the international community is watching closely as the region teeters on the brink of a return to the full-scale warfare that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives between 2020 and 2022. The U.S.
State Department has issued travel warnings for the affected areas, underscoring the volatility of a region once again being pushed to the precipice by insurgent aggression.
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