Rebels from the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) have reportedly seized control of regional airports in Tigray, northern Ethiopia, and engaged government troops in the neighboring Afar and Amhara regions. The clashes on Wednesday mark the latest in a series of violent incidents in recent months, sparking fears of a return to full-scale war in the already devastated region.
The African Union (AU) estimates that some 600,000 people were killed during the 2020-2022 civil war between the TPLF and Ethiopian forces, with over 1 million still displaced. The renewed fighting threatens to undo fragile gains and plunge the country back into a humanitarian catastrophe.
On Wednesday, state-owned Ethiopian Airlines announced it had canceled service at Mekelle, Tigray's capital, as well as Axum and Shire regional airports "due to the current situation." Local witnesses reported that TPLF rebels armed with light weapons took Mekelle Airport — normally controlled by government forces — without a fight.
The renewed hostilities come just days after the TPLF announced an "Alliance for Survival" with other groups aimed at removing Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his government from power. Abiy and his Prosperity Party won reelection in June, though the vote was boycotted by Ethiopia's main opposition groups.
The TPLF ruled Ethiopia from 1991 until 2018, when it was replaced by Abiy, whose election sparked the civil war. The Pretoria Peace Agreement ended the conflict, but peace has remained elusive, with government troops resuming drone strikes in 2025 as TPLF rebels began amassing troops at regional borders.
Ethiopia has accused the TPLF of allying with neighboring Eritrea and other armed groups. An advisor to Prime Minister Abiy called Wednesday's development "heartbreaking," saying rebels had launched offensives against government forces in Afar and Amhara as well as taking control of airports in Tigray. However, the Tigray government said in a statement on Facebook that the Tigray army "has been instructed to counter the attack and genocidal invasion launched against us, and has entered into a defensive battle."
Source: www.dw.com