The internet was disrupted in northern Ethiopia on Friday, online monitor Netblocks reported, as conflict raged between the federal government and Tigray rebels. According to Netblocks, network data indicated a subnational internet disruption in northern Ethiopia, corresponding to reports of a telecoms blackout in Tigray. This development has raised concerns among locals, who fear a repeat of the telecoms blackout and supplies blockade imposed on Tigray by the federal government during the last civil war.
The conflict escalated this week as rebels in the northern Tigray region seized local airports and launched attacks into neighbouring states, saying they were once again in a "full-blown war" with the federal government. The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) launched offensives into Amhara and Afar regions on Wednesday, in response to attacks by federal forces. This has led to heavy fighting in North Wollo Zone of Amhara, including around the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Lalibela.
Analysts believe the Tigrayans are repeating their strategy from the last war, pushing south through Amhara towards the capital, Addis Ababa, while the offensive in Afar is likely aimed at cutting off supplies from Djibouti, which provides almost all of Ethiopia's international trade cargo, including fuel. The TPLF ruled the whole of Ethiopia from 1991 to 2018 before being sidelined with the rise of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, eventually triggering the civil war.
Locals in Tigray are rushing to stock up on supplies amid fears of conflict, with prices for basic goods spiking. Samuel Gebreslassie, 37, who works in a spice shop in the Tigray capital, Mekelle, described the situation as "panic in the community." There is deep fear that banks, telecom networks, electricity and basic goods could be cut off again, as happened during the last civil war.
The TPLF has forged an anti-government alliance with the Fano in Amhara and five other armed groups around the country. This development has raised concerns that the conflict could draw in neighbouring Eritrea, which fears landlocked Ethiopia is planning to invade it to gain access to the Red Sea. The dynamics have changed since the last civil war, when the Fano and Eritrea both fought with the government against the Tigrayans.
The Pretoria Peace Agreement of 2022 maintained an uneasy calm until last year, but was never fully implemented. Sporadic clashes then resumed, with the federal forces launching multiple drone strikes in Tigray in recent months and massing troops at the border. Rights groups have accused the TPLF of a campaign of forced recruitment this year as it prepared for renewed conflict.
The conflict has resulted in significant humanitarian concerns, with around one million people remaining displaced from the last war. The situation remains volatile, with ongoing fighting and internet disruptions. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, as the conflict threatens to destabilize the region.
Key points
- The internet was disrupted in northern Ethiopia amid conflict between federal government and Tigray rebels.
- Locals in Tigray are rushing to stock up on supplies amid fears of conflict.
- The conflict has resulted in significant humanitarian concerns, with around one million people remaining displaced from the last war.
