The city of Mekelle, capital of Ethiopia's Tigray region, has begun to return to normalcy after a week-long blackout. Residents reported that shops were reopening and phone and internet access was being restored on Monday. The city's return to routine comes after federal forces took control of Mekelle over the weekend, with Tigrayan forces leaving without a fight. The rapid return to normalcy is seen as a fragile attempt by the city to move past the conflict.
However, not all areas of Tigray have been spared the violence. A humanitarian bulletin reported that airstrikes overnight into Monday killed at least 17 people in two separate incidents. Nine people were killed in Adwa, about 100 km from Mekelle, and eight in Sheraro. The bulletin did not specify who launched the airstrikes, and the Ethiopian National Defence Force and the Tigray People's Liberation Front had not responded to requests for comment.
The conflict in Tigray has sparked fears of a wider war in the Horn of Africa. The region has experienced a devastating civil war from 2020-2022 that left hundreds of thousands dead. The recent escalation of fighting is the worst since that conflict ended, and families who buried relatives just a few years ago are now facing the sound of artillery fire once again.
The conflict has also drawn in neighboring countries, with Ethiopia accusing Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt of backing the armed opposition. All three countries have denied these allegations. Last week, Ethiopia and Eritrea severed diplomatic ties over these claims. On Sunday, the leaders of Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan, and Somalia met to discuss the crisis and agreed to coordinate military and intelligence efforts if the conflict spreads to their borders.
The US has also weighed in on the conflict, with the State Department urging restraint from both Eritrea and Ethiopia. The department warned that conflict would jeopardize American cooperation with each country. Meanwhile, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has vowed to secure sea access for his landlocked country, a move that has raised concerns in Eritrea.
Abiy's comments have sparked fears of a wider conflict over access to the sea. Eritrea has expressed concerns that Ethiopia may try to take control of its port of Assab by force. Abiy has maintained that Ethiopia intends to secure sea access through peaceful means. The situation remains volatile, with artillery duels reported near the Tekeze River.
The capture of Mekelle without a fight may be less a victory than a pause, with armies often preserving strength by leaving cities intact. The unattributed airstrikes are a test of accountability, and the Horn of Africa is being pulled into a conflict that began as a domestic quarrel. The margin for miscalculation is shrinking, and the international community is watching with concern.
Key points
- At least 17 people killed in airstrikes in Tigray region
- Ethiopia and Eritrea sever diplomatic ties over allegations of backing armed opposition
- US urges restraint from Eritrea and Ethiopia to avoid jeopardizing cooperation
