The Tigray region of northern Ethiopia has experienced widespread internet and telephone outages after fighting resumed this week between Tigrayan forces and federal troops. State operator Ethio Telecom was cut off while Safaricom remained partly functional; NetBlocks reported a sub-national shutdown. Humanitarian workers warn that prolonged loss of connectivity will worsen severe cash shortages and hamper aid. Reports also cite heavy fighting and drone strikes near Abala and the alleged seizure of three airports, prompting Ethiopian Airlines to suspend flights to Tigray.
Internet Cut as Heavy Fighting Erupts in Ethiopia's Tigray — Cash Shortages and Airport Seizures Reported
The internet was cut in Tigray during the two-year civil war which ended in 2022 (file photo) [AFP via Getty Images]
Internet and telephone services across Ethiopia's northern Tigray region were disrupted after fighting resumed this week between regional Tigrayan forces and the federal army. The outage has intensified humanitarian concerns in a region already suffering from limited cash and supplies.
Connectivity Breakdown: State-owned Ethio Telecom's services were reportedly cut across much of Tigray, while the smaller private operator Safaricom remained partly operational. NetBlocks, the internet-monitoring group, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that network measurements pointed to a sub-national shutdown in northern Tigray.
"Last night telecommunications got knocked out," said Duke Burbridge, an American humanitarian worker in Mekelle, Tigray's regional capital, to the BBC's Newsday programme.
The BBC has sought comment from Ethiopian authorities. Reuters sources told the news agency that the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) — which controls much of the region — ordered the communications blackout; one source suggested the move was intended to hinder government drone operations. The TPLF has not issued a public response.
[BBC]
Reporting Constraints: Journalists face severe access restrictions: the BBC said it could not report from Tigray or surrounding areas, limiting independent verification of events. Aside from footage from Mekelle, much shared online appears to have been recorded outside the region.
Humanitarian Impact: Aid workers say cash has been scarce for months because ATMs have been largely inaccessible. "The lack of internet services would be devastating for everybody," Burbridge warned, noting that many residents depend on banking and mobile-money apps accessed via Ethio Telecom or Safaricom networks. A Mekelle resident identified only as Fitsum told the BBC there was "almost no cash" left and that the city felt as if a curfew had been imposed.
Escalation of Violence: Clashes between Tigrayan forces and allies and Ethiopia's federal troops began on Wednesday, stoking fears of a wider return to civil war and prompting reports of panic buying. An AFP-sourced humanitarian contact in neighbouring Afar reported "heavy fighting overnight," including drone strikes around the mountain town of Abala, where federal forces pushed back attackers attempting to enter the town.
[BBC]
On Sunday the TPLF announced an alliance with six other armed groups aimed at unseating the federal government. On Wednesday, its forces reportedly seized control of three airports previously guarded by federal police. Following those reports, Ethiopian Airlines cancelled all flights to Tigray.
Context and Consequences: During the two-year conflict that ended in 2022, Tigray was effectively cut off from the outside world. Severe shortages of cash, food and medicine forced hundreds of thousands into famine-like conditions; some estimates put the death toll from that period in the hundreds of thousands. The current communications blackout and renewed hostilities risk repeating or deepening those humanitarian harms.
Note: The situation remains fluid. Independent verification is limited by restricted access and communications blackouts. Additional reporting by Peter Mwai, BBC Verify.
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