Ethiopian Airlines said in a statement that flights to the capital of the war-torn northern region of Tigray will resume on Wednesday. The flights will be the first commercial flights to Tigray in approximately 18 months.
The announcement comes just one day after a delegation of government officials and heads of public enterprises visited Mekelle to discuss the implementation of the peace agreement signed last month.
The agreement, which included promises to restore services, brought an end to two years of fighting between the Ethiopian federal government and its allies and Tigrayan forces, which killed thousands and displaced millions.
“The resumption of these flights will enable families to reunite, facilitate the restoration of commercial activities, stimulate tourist flow, and bring many more opportunities that will serve the society,” said Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Tasew.
According to an Addis Ababa travel agent, the first Mekelle-bound flight was fully booked within hours of the announcement.
Almost the entire region is now connected to the national power grid, and telecommunications services in 27 towns have been restored.
Eritrean troops, who fought alongside Ethiopian federal forces but did not sign the peace treaties, were accused of looting towns, arresting and killing civilians after they were signed.
According to Reuters, a humanitarian aid worker in the Tigrayan town of Shire saw Eritrean soldiers on Tuesday morning.
Ref: Reuters
