Ethiopian Airlines has suspended all passenger flights to the northern Tigray region following reports of renewed clashes between federal government forces and Tigrayan fighters.Â
Flights to major Tigrayan hubs, including Mekelle, Axum, Shire, and Humera, have been halted.The state-owned carrier notified passengers via text message that flights were cancelled due to “unplanned circumstances”. Airline officials later described the move as being for “operational reasons”.
Passengers who had already booked travel received cancellation notices, and airport staff in Mekelle were reportedly told not to report for work. Fighting has been reported in Mai Degusha, a contested area in the Tselemti district of western Tigray.
Sources indicate the Ethiopian federal army (ENDF) and Amhara militias are facing off against Tigrayan forces.This escalation follows growing friction over the 2022 Pretoria peace deal. Tensions have spiked ahead of June’s elections, particularly after the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) had its political party license revoked.Â
While buses are still reportedly operating between Addis Ababa and Tigray, they are subject to disruption. International travel advisories from countries like the UK and Canada continue to warn against all travel to the region.
By Anthony Solly
