Ethiopia: what's driving the renewed violence in Tigray?

Internet connectivity has been severed in Ethiopia's Tigray region, according to the web monitoring group NetBlocks. The escalation of conflict in the area has led to a breakdown in communication, following the recent resumption of hostilities between the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Ethiopian government. The 2022 peace agreement between the two sides has been shattered, marking a recurrence of the 2020-2022 Tigray war, which saw the region largely isolated from the world and left millions facing famine.

NetBlocks reported network data indicating a subnational disruption in northern Ethiopia, coinciding with accounts of a telecom blackout in the Tigray region. However, the exact cause of the disruption remains unclear. Residents cited panic buying as a contributing factor, with shops reportedly running out of stock. There is a palpable fear that banks, telecom networks, electricity, and essential goods could face further disruptions, a local resident told AFP.

Tensions have escalated as the TPLF gained control of regional airports in Tigray and clashed with government forces in neighboring Afar and Amhara regions. The militia declared a "full-blown war" against the Addis Ababa government, forming an anti-government alliance with the Fano militia in Amhara and five other armed groups. The TPLF once ruled Ethiopia from 1991 to 2018 but was later sidelined by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's rise to power.