Tigray Airport Seized Amid Rising Tensions
Tigray airport in the regional capital Mekelle has been seized by local forces from federal police, according to residents who spoke to the BBC. The development comes as tensions between Ethiopia’s federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) continue to rise.
No flights are currently landing at Mekelle airport. Ethiopian Airlines has also suspended services to Mekelle, Shire and Axum, citing the “current situation” in Tigray as the reason for the disruption.
The latest developments have renewed concerns that Ethiopia’s northern region could face another major conflict. The Tigray conflict ended in November 2022 after two years of fighting, but disputes between the federal government and the TPLF have continued.
Mekelle Airport Flights Suspended
The flight suspension follows several reported drone strikes across Tigray. On Tuesday, at least 14 people were killed and 22 others injured in a strike in the southern town of Alamata, according to Tigrayan authorities.
Alamata Mayor Mogos Shiferaw told the BBC that more than five drones and a fighter jet carried out more than 21 strikes from about 03:30. He said the attacks caused widespread panic and psychological trauma among residents.
Mogos said those killed and injured were civilians and accused federal forces of targeting two secondary schools. He said the schools had previously been used as federal military bases during the civil war but were empty because the academic year had not yet started.
The BBC said it could not independently verify the allegations, while the Ethiopian government had not publicly commented on the claims.
TPLF Ethiopia Alliance Raises Conflict Fears
The TPLF announced on Sunday that it had formed an alliance with six armed groups in Ethiopia with the stated aim of removing the government in Addis Ababa. The announcement has added to concerns over the future of the Pretoria Agreement, the African Union-mediated peace deal that formally ended the Tigray conflict in November 2022.
The TPLF and federal government have accused each other of violating provisions of the agreement. Both sides have also faced criticism over delays in implementing important parts of the deal.
In July, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed told parliament that the TPLF was preparing for renewed conflict. Shortly before the general election in May, the TPLF restored its pre-war regional administration and dissolved an interim administration that had been appointed by Abiy.
There have also been reports alleging that the TPLF has forcibly recruited young men to join its forces.
Ethiopia Drone Strikes Draw International Concern
The recent violence has also attracted international concern. The US State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs condemned a separate drone strike it said occurred on Monday and targeted a convoy of Catholic vehicles transporting food aid.
The US called for an investigation into the incident and urged the parties involved to settle their differences through dialogue. It also called for measures to prevent similar attacks from occurring.
The Tigrayan authorities on Wednesday accused Addis Ababa of launching an open invasion against residents of the region. They called on people to support regional forces and maintain unity as tensions continue.
The previous Tigray conflict was among the deadliest conflicts of the 21st century. The African Union’s mediator estimated that about 600,000 people died during the fighting, which also pushed the region towards famine.
With Tigray airport operations disrupted, Ethiopian Airlines flights suspended and reports of fresh attacks emerging, concerns are growing over whether the fragile peace established in 2022 can be maintained.
