Rebel forces in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region have said they have temporarily withdrawn from the regional capital, Mekelle, as fighting with the national army moves towards the city. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which has been running the region, said its decision to relocate was made because of concerns about risks to civilians. Two
The latest diplomatic confrontation came hours after loud explosions were heard on Wednesday night in Addis Ababa, close to the headquarters of the intelligence service. A source linked to the opposition alliance told Reuters news agency that its forces had carried out drone attacks in the capital. Ethiopian authorities have not confirmed what caused the
Since the fighting erupted, banking services in Tigray have been suspended by the government. Access to the internet has also been cut – though it is not clear who ordered the closure. A separate source in Alamata told the BBC there was a worsening humanitarian crisis in the area, as the town swelled with people
Internet and call services have been disrupted in Ethiopia’s northern region of Tigray after fighting broke out this week between regional forces and the national army. Services provided by state-owned telecoms operator Ethio Telecom have been completely cut, although those from the much smaller private firm Safaricom remain operational. Internet monitoring group NetBlocks earlier posted
A humanitarian source in Afar told AFP news agency on Thursday that Tigrayan forces had launched heavy artillery attacks as they attempted to take control of the town of Yallo, near the border with Tigray. “We are in the situation of full-blown war now,” TPLF vice-president Amanuel Assefa is quoted by the news agency as
The flight suspension follows a series of reported drone strikes in Tigray. On Tuesday, a strike in the southern town of Alamata killed at least 14 people and injured 22 others, according to the Tigrayan authorities. The town’s mayor, Mogos Shiferaw, told the BBC that more than five drones and one fighter jet had carried
