Ethiopian Airlines suspends flights to Tigray region after takeover of Mekelle airport

Ethiopian Airlines has suspended flights to Ethiopia's northern Tigray region following the takeover of Mekelle airport by Tigrayan forces, according to local sources cited by Daily Maverick. The state-owned carrier announced the suspension on social media, citing the current situation in Tigray, but provided no further details.

Two local sources told Reuters that Tigrayan forces had taken control of the Mekelle airport overnight. The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which governed the region during the 2020-2022 civil war, announced on Sunday the formation of an alliance with six other armed groups to overthrow the Abiy Ahmed government. The TPLF and federal government have had deteriorating relations since the November 2022 peace deal, with each accusing the other of violating the agreement.

The TPLF seized control of the region's government in May, and Ethiopian military has conducted drone strikes against Tigrayan forces in recent months. The federal government has not commented on the reported strikes, but the military stated that nearly 300 Tigrayan fighters had surrendered.

Brief written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.