Local forces in Ethiopia's northern region of Tigray have seized control of the airport in the regional capital, Mekelle, from federal police, local residents have told the BBC. The development has raised concerns about a potential return to conflict in the region. The airport is currently not receiving flights, and Ethiopian Airlines has suspended flights to Mekelle and other nearby cities due to the "current situation" in Tigray.
The seizure of the airport comes amid escalating tensions between the government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which runs the region. The TPLF has announced an alliance with six armed groups in Ethiopia to remove the government in Addis Ababa, fuelling fears of a return to civil war. A two-year war in Tigray ended in November 2022, but both sides are now accusing each other of violating an African Union-mediated peace deal.
The conflict in Tigray has had a devastating impact on the region, with estimates suggesting that around 600,000 people died in the fighting. The region was also driven to the precipice of famine. The African Union's mediator estimated that the conflict was one of the most deadly of this century. Since the end of the war, there have been reports of continued violence and human rights abuses in the region.
In recent days, there have been reported drone strikes in Tigray, including a strike in the southern town of Alamata that killed at least 14 people and injured 22 others. The town's mayor, Mogos Shiferaw, accused federal forces of targeting two secondary schools in the strike. The mayor believed that the schools were struck on suspicion that they were being used by Tigrayan forces, but said they were unoccupied as the academic year had not yet begun.
The Tigray authorities have accused Addis Ababa of launching an open invasion on the region's residents, urging people to support the regional forces and maintain unity. The US State Department's Bureau of African Affairs has condemned a separate drone strike that targeted a convoy of Catholic vehicles carrying food aid. The Bureau called for an investigation and urged all parties to resolve their differences through dialogue.
Both the government and TPLF leaders have faced criticism over delays in implementing key provisions of the Pretoria Agreement, which formally ended the conflict in November 2022. In July, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed accused the TPLF of preparing for renewed conflict during an address to parliament. The TPLF restored its pre-war administration in May, disbanding an interim one appointed by Abiy.
The situation in Tigray remains volatile, with concerns growing about the potential for renewed conflict. The international community has called for restraint and dialogue to resolve the differences between the parties. The Ethiopian government and the TPLF will need to work together to implement the Pretoria Agreement and address the underlying issues driving the conflict.
Key points
- Tigray forces have seized control of the airport in Mekelle from federal police.
- The conflict in Tigray has resulted in significant human suffering, with estimates suggesting around 600,000 people died.
- The international community has called for restraint and dialogue to resolve the differences between the parties.
