Passenger flights between Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, and cities in the northern Tigray region have been cancelled amid growing fears of a return to conflict, following reports of clashes in one area.
Ethiopian Airlines, which operates all domestic routes, informed passengers of the cancellations via text message, citing “unplanned circumstances”. Neither the airline nor the government has issued further comment.
Airport staff in Mekelle, the main city in Tigray, have reportedly been instructed not to report to work.
A 2022 peace agreement that ended a devastating civil war in Tigray appears to be unravelling, as tensions rise over disputed territory and with national elections scheduled for June.
There are reports of clashes between federal forces and Tigray fighters in Mai Degusha, a contested area of the Tselemti district in western Tigray.
During the war, forces from the neighbouring Amhara region occupied large parts of western Tigray, a fertile area that remains a major point of contention.
The government has said the dispute will be resolved through a referendum. However, around one million people were displaced from the area during the conflict and continue to live in difficult conditions in makeshift camps across Tigray, raising questions about whether they will be able to participate in any vote.
Sources have also reported new military movements in southern Tigray, heightening concerns that fighting could resume.
