Heavy fighting has erupted in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region, resulting in the deaths of at least 52 civilians in three days of clashes around Alamata. Hospital sources have confirmed the fatalities, with the fighting involving government troops and regional fighters. The conflict has led to government troops taking control of the town, with social media clips showing army tanks on Alamata's streets.
The clashes broke out last week after months of tension between the government and the party that controls Tigray, with both accusing each other of violating a 2022 deal that ended a two-year civil war. The fighting has also affected neighbouring regions, with 33 tourists stranded in Lalibela, a Unesco world heritage site. The tourists have been unable to leave since the airport closed to commercial flights last Wednesday.
A British tourist, who asked not to be named, told the BBC's Newsday programme that there had been intense fighting near Lalibela in the Amhara region. He described hearing gunfire and artillery cannons firing throughout the week, with a large military presence in the town. The tourist hub has been affected, with most visitors unable to leave, although 14 Israeli tourists were evacuated by military helicopter on Monday.
The fighting around Lalibela has involved the army and an Amhara militia that has allied with Tigrayan fighters. The militia recently joined forces with other Ethiopian armed movements to form a seven-member alliance with the stated intention of removing the government in the capital, Addis Ababa. There are also concerns that neighbouring Eritrea could be drawn into the conflict.
The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the party that runs Tigray, says it was responding to a federal offensive, including drone strikes, while the government says Tigrayan forces attacked first after seizing control of airports in the region. TPLF fighters are also fighting in the Afar region, a strategic area connecting landlocked Ethiopia to Djibouti and its ports.
Medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported that more than 700 wounded people had been admitted to hospitals it supports in Tigray over the last few days. A doctor at Alamata General Hospital described the fighting as involving heavy explosives and artillery, with those killed including children as young as three days old, mothers, and cattle herders.
The conflict has led to a worsening humanitarian crisis, with banking services suspended by the government and access to the internet cut off. A source in Alamata described the situation as desperate and frustrating, with people fleeing fighting and seeking safety in the town. The clampdown on Tigray's banking services is also affecting Tigrayans who are not physically in the region, with customers reporting frozen or restricted bank accounts.
Key points
- At least 52 civilians killed in three days of heavy fighting in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region
- Fighting has affected neighbouring regions, with 33 tourists stranded in Lalibela
- Humanitarian crisis worsens, with banking services suspended and internet access cut off
