Full Breakdown
Renewed Conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region: Alliances, Airport Seizures, and Communications Blackout
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
In early September 2026 the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) seized the airports in Mekelle, Axum and Shire and launched attacks into Afar and Amhara. Federal forces responded with drone strikes and ground counter-attacks, reporting 272 TPLF fighters killed and 260 wounded. The TPLF ordered Ethio Telecom and Safaricom to shut down mobile and internet services, creating a near-total communications blackout across Tigray. The fighting has spread along the Tigray-Afar border and into North Wollo, threatening the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement.
Background & Context
The 2020-2022 Tigray war killed an estimated 600 000 people and displaced millions. The Pretoria-brokered agreement signed on 2 November 2022 halted large-scale combat but left disputes over western Tigray, disarmament and the return of displaced persons.
Timeline
- 21 September – Addis Ababa announces the indefinite suspension of Tigrai TV.
- 23 September – TPLF forces seize Mekelle, Axum and Shire airports; Ethiopian Airlines suspends flights.
- 24 September – NetBlocks records a sub-national internet disruption in northern Ethiopia.
- 25 September – Ethiopian Human Rights Commission confirms escalating border hostilities and the communications shutdown.
- 28 September – Pro-government militia claims capture of Alamata south of Mekelle.
Data & Statistics
- ENDF claims 272 TPLF fighters killed and 260 wounded in the North Wollo counter-offensive.
- Federal sources later reported more than 700 TPLF fighters killed in Amhara, unverified independently.
- A humanitarian source estimates at least 150 000 people displaced in Afar after artillery strikes on Erebti.
- NetBlocks confirms a network-wide outage affecting Ethio Telecom and Safaricom on 24 September.
Official Statements & Responses
- Getachew Reda, adviser to Prime Minister Abiy, called the TPLF’s leadership “irresponsible to new heights.”
- U.S. Ambassador Ervin J. Massinga expressed disappointment with the “large-scale offensive” and urged a return to AU-mediated dialogue.
- AU Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf condemned the new alliances and called for immediate de-escalation and respect for the Pretoria agreement.
Criticism & Opposition
Analyst Jervin Naidoo argues that “consistent violations on both sides” have eroded the peace accord.
On-the-Ground Reports
Residents of Mekelle reported panic buying and long queues for cash. Market vendor Selam Fantay described “an atmosphere of fear” as supplies dwindled. Humanitarian worker Duke Burbridge confirmed that “last night telecommunications got knocked out,” leaving families unable to contact relatives.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Initiation of fighting: Federal statements claim the TPLF launched an “all-out offensive,” while TPLF officials say they are responding to a federal “air, drone and artillery attack.”
- Casualty verification: ENDF figures are unverified; independent media have not confirmed the numbers.
- Cause of the blackout: The TPLF is said to have ordered the shutdown, but a Tigrayan source blamed the government. NetBlocks can confirm the outage but not its initiator.
What’s Next
The African Union has tasked former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo with renewed mediation, while the United Nations continues to call for civilian protection and unhindered humanitarian access. No specific deadlines for a cease-fire or peace talks have been announced.