Passenger flights between Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, and cities in the northern Tigray region have been suspended amid growing fears of a return to armed conflict, following reports of clashes and new military movements in the area.
Ethiopian Airlines informed passengers of the cancellations via text messages, citing “unplanned circumstances”. Neither the airline nor government authorities have provided further clarification. Media reports say airport staff in Mekelle, Tigray’s main city, were instructed not to report to work.
The suspensions come as a fragile peace agreement signed in 2022 to end the devastating war in Tigray continues to unravel. Tensions have been rising over disputed territory, as well as ahead of national elections scheduled for June.
Clashes have been reported between federal forces and Tigray fighters in Mai Degusha, a contested area in the Tselemti district of western Tigray. During the war, forces from the neighbouring Amhara region took control of large parts of western Tigray, an area whose status remains unresolved.
The government has said the dispute will be settled through a referendum. However, around one million people who fled western Tigray during the conflict remain displaced in makeshift camps across the region, and it remains unclear whether they will be able to participate in any future vote.
Sources have also reported fresh military movements in southern Tigray, adding to concerns that the region could slide back into conflict after more than a year of relative calm.
The African Union brokered the 2022 ceasefire between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, known as the Pretoria Agreement. The deal established an interim administration to govern Tigray during a transitional period.
Tigray’s transport officials confirmed that flights had been cancelled but said they were not informed of the reasons behind the decision. Bus services between Addis Ababa and Tigray are continuing, though disruptions are possible following the suspension of air travel.
Relations between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front have steadily deteriorated since the peace deal. Disputes have emerged over the group’s political status after its designation as a terrorist organisation during the war. The electoral board recently revoked the party’s licence, preventing it from contesting the upcoming elections.
Internal divisions within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front have further complicated the situation, deepening uncertainty in a region still recovering from a war that left hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced, with all sides accused of serious abuses against civilians.