Residents of Mekelle, the largest city in northern Ethiopia, say fear is spreading as fighting resumes between federal forces and Tigrayan fighters. Many people are reportedly trying to leave the region as renewed clashes raise fears of another major conflict.
Residents who spoke to The Associated Press described disruptions to daily life. Internet services have been affected in parts of northern Ethiopia, while transport links between Tigray and neighbouring Afar have also faced restrictions.
“There is an atmosphere of fear,” said Selam Fantay, a garlic seller in Mekelle. She said residents were worried that the suspension of transport services could signal a return to wider conflict.
Businessman Hailay Meles said disruptions could also push up the cost of essential goods. He warned that prolonged fighting would put further pressure on prices of basic commodities.
Civilians Flee as Fighting Spreads
Valerie Browning, co-founder of the Afar Pastoralist Development Association, said people were moving from Tigray into Afar. She also reported hearing explosions overnight.
Browning said humanitarian groups were facing difficulties as the conflict continued. She said some vehicles, including ambulances, had been taken for use in the war.
The renewed fighting has effectively shattered the fragile peace that followed the 2022 agreement between Ethiopia’s federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, or TPLF. The agreement ended a devastating two-year war in Tigray.
Tigrayan forces have since seized airports in the region, including Mekelle’s Alula Aba Nega Airport. Ethiopian Airlines suspended flights to Mekelle, Axum and Shire because of the security situation.
Federal Government and TPLF Blame Each Other
Both sides have accused the other of violating the 2022 peace agreement.
The TPLF has accused Ethiopian authorities of carrying out drone attacks in Tigray. The federal government, meanwhile, has accused the TPLF of preparing to destabilise the country and has raised concerns about possible links between the group and Eritrea.
Eritrea has denied involvement in supporting Ethiopian rebels. Relations between Addis Ababa and Asmara have deteriorated amid disagreements over Ethiopia’s desire for access to the Red Sea.
Ethiopia’s military said Thursday that dozens of TPLF fighters had been killed during ongoing operations. It also said other fighters had been detained and weapons had been seized. These claims could not be independently verified.
Fighting has also spread beyond Tigray. Reports indicate clashes in neighbouring Afar and Amhara, increasing concerns that the violence could develop into a wider conflict.
Opposition Groups Join Forces Against Abiy
The renewed fighting comes days after seven Ethiopian opposition groups announced a new alliance aimed at removing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government.
The Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival includes the TPLF, the Amhara Fano National Movement and the Oromo Liberation Army. Four other regional groups have also joined the alliance.
The groups say they want to establish a transitional government. Their cooperation brings together organisations that have previously fought the federal government and, in some cases, fought on opposing sides.
Analysts have warned that the alliance could create several simultaneous fronts against the federal government. However, the groups have different political interests and territorial objectives, and the extent of their military coordination remains uncertain.
Fears of a Wider Ethiopian Conflict
The latest escalation has revived memories of the 2020-2022 Tigray war, which caused a major humanitarian crisis and widespread displacement.
Residents in Mekelle and other parts of Tigray have reportedly been stocking up on food and withdrawing cash as concerns grow over a return to prolonged fighting.
The situation also has implications beyond Tigray. Tensions involving Eritrea, Amhara forces and other armed groups could complicate efforts to contain the violence.
For civilians in Mekelle, however, the immediate concern is more basic. Disrupted transport, suspended flights, rising prices and renewed fighting are creating uncertainty over daily life.
