Internet restricted after fighting erupts in Ethiopia’s Tigray region
By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent Four years after a landmark peace agreement ended one of the deadliest conflicts of the twenty-first century, war has returned to Ethiopia. Renewed fighting between Tigrayan forces and the federal government threatens to plunge the Horn of Africa back into a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. The fragile Pretoria accord, […]
Internet access has been cut off in Ethiopia's Tigray region following a resurgence in fighting between Tigrayan forces and the federal government. This escalation threatens to reignite a devastating humanitarian crisis following the collapse of the Pretoria peace agreement in November 2022. Tigrayan forces have seized government-controlled airports, leading to heavy clashes and federal drone strikes in neighboring Amhara and Afar regions.
State-owned Ethio Telecom services have been completely disrupted, while private provider Safaricom remains partially functional. The abrupt communications blackout, ordered by the Tigray People's Liberation Front, has crippled financial systems and left residents with almost no cash, exacerbating the already severe cash shortage that has persisted for eight months.
Analysts warn that the conflict could spread beyond Ethiopia's borders, threatening economic and security stability across the African continent. The breakdown of the 2022 peace deal was the result of years of systematic erosion by both the federal government and the TPLF, leading to a widening rift over territorial claims and internal power struggles.
The international community must now prioritize immediate de-escalation and dialogue to prevent a wider regional catastrophe.
Written by urgent.news from GBC Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
