An explosion occurred overnight at the headquarters of the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) in the Tor Hayloch area of Addis Ababa, between midnight and 1:00am local time. Multiple sources confirmed the blast, which was described as powerful and triggered significant panic among people in the vicinity. A worker at a nearby bar reported that the explosion shook the surrounding area.
The explosion comes amid escalating tensions in Ethiopia, where heavy fighting broke out on September 23 between Ethiopian forces and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). The conflict has raised fears of a return to the devastating 2020-2022 civil war that killed an estimated 600,000 people. The TPLF has launched attacks into neighbouring Afar and Amhara states, fighting alongside local militias.
The blast at the ENDF headquarters would mark the first time that the city has been targeted in recent years if confirmed as a rebel attack. A foreign diplomatic source and a security source in the city confirmed the blast but could not say who was responsible or the nature of the blast. The ENDF spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The National Intelligence and Security Services ordered a ban on all drone flights around the capital on Wednesday. This move comes as clashes are ongoing across several fronts, with pro-government forces pushing northwards towards the Tigray capital of Mekelle. Media are prevented from travelling to affected areas, and there are significant communications disruptions.
Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reported that it had registered more than 420 wounded at Korem and Alamata hospitals in Tigray by September 25, and more than 300 at Shire in western Tigray. A humanitarian source estimated that tens of thousands have fled their homes in Afar. The conflict has resulted in hundreds of people being killed and wounded.
The Ethiopian government has barely commented on the conflict, and the situation remains unclear. The TPLF and Ethiopian forces have been engaged in a long-standing conflict, with the TPLF controlling the Tigray region. The international community has expressed concern over the escalating violence and its impact on civilians.
The explosion at the ENDF headquarters is the latest development in the conflict, and its implications are still unclear. The incident has raised concerns about the security situation in the capital and the potential for further escalation.
Key points
- The explosion occurred at the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) headquarters in the Tor Hayloch area of Addis Ababa.
- The conflict has resulted in hundreds of people being killed and wounded, with tens of thousands fleeing their homes.
- The situation remains unclear, with the Ethiopian government barely commenting on the conflict.
