Ethiopia civil war fears escalate after rebel forces ‘seize airport’

Tigray’s regional government has announced that its forces have entered a defensive war against federal troops Forces in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region have reportedly taken control of the airport in its capital, Mekelle, prompting state-owned Ethiopian Airlines to suspend services to three local destinations.

The takeover marks a sharp escalation nearly four years after a peace deal ended a brutal two-year civil war in the East African country.

The carrier announced in a social media post on Wednesday that services to Mekelle, Shire, and Axum have been halted “due to the current situation in Tigray region,” without elaborating.

“We sincerely apologize to our valued customers for any inconvenience caused by this suspension.

We will inform you when flight operations resume,” the state-owned airline stated.

Two local sources told Reuters that Tigrayan forces have taken control of Mekelle airport from federal police in an overnight operation.

In a statement on Wednesday, Tigray’s regional government said its forces have entered a defensive war against federal troops.

It accused the federal government of launching a ground offensive after air and artillery strikes across parts of Tigray on Tuesday.

READ MORE: Ethiopian armed groups seek to oust government The federal government has yet to publicly comment on the alleged takeover and the airstrikes.

The development came days after seven armed groups, including the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the political party that runs Tigray, announced an alliance seeking to overthrow Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government and establish a transitional administration.

In a statement on Sunday, the coalition, known as the Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival, accused the ruling Prosperity Party of imposing “dictatorial” rule and pushing the East African country toward disintegration.

Read more Colonial chains broken? The largest African dam tests water legacy On Monday, Abiy’s spokesperson, Billene Seyoum, accused the alliance of collaborating with financial backing from neighboring Eritrea.

The authorities in Eritrea have repeatedly denied backing the groups.

Ethiopia has struggled to secure lasting stability in Tigray since a 2022 peace agreement ended the two-year war between federal forces and the TPLF.