Explosions were heard overnight in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, according to three diplomatic sources. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added to anxiety about the possible spread of renewed conflict in the country's north. The blasts were linked to the opposition alliance fighting government forces in northern Ethiopia.
A source linked to the opposition alliance claimed they had carried out several drone strikes in Addis Ababa, including some targeting the military's headquarters. However, Reuters could not independently verify the claim, and witnesses reported no visible damage near the military base. The incident would be the first known drone attack by anti-government forces on the Ethiopian capital.
The national intelligence service had announced on Wednesday that it was banning drones over Addis Ababa and its surroundings for security reasons. This move came after last week's clashes, which were the biggest escalation in Ethiopia since the end of a 2020-2022 civil war. The conflict has involved the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and other armed groups.
The TPLF has formed an alliance with six other armed groups aiming to overthrow Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. Federal forces have been advancing in southern Tigray, edging closer to the regional capital Mekelle, while the opposition alliance has captured towns in neighbouring Afar. The pro-government Tigray Peace Forces militia reported capturing the Tigrayan town of Korem.
The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of people fleeing their homes in Afar. Valerie Browning, a founder of the Afar Pastoralist Development Association, stated that fighting has forced people to flee. An Afari government official reported that federal and regional forces had recaptured the towns of Erebti and Abaala, near the border with Tigray.
The conflict could further destabilize the wider Horn of Africa region, which is already unsettled by Sudan's civil war and frictions over Red Sea access between Ethiopia and neighbouring Eritrea. Ethiopia's government has accused Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting the opposition alliance, but all three deny this.
Experts warn that the opposition's ability to strike Addis Ababa would be a "political game-changer," undermining the government narrative that the capital is unaffected by the war. Edward Bach, Senior Africa Analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, noted that this would narrow a key tactical advantage for federal forces, their aerial superiority.
Key points
- The conflict in northern Ethiopia has resulted in tens of thousands of people fleeing their homes.
- The opposition alliance's ability to strike Addis Ababa would be a "political game-changer."
- The conflict could further destabilize the wider Horn of Africa region.
