Fresh fighting has been reported in parts of Ethiopia’s Tigray region, raising concerns about security conditions more than two years after a peace agreement formally ended a devastating conflict in the area.
According to local sources and residents, clashes broke out earlier this week in western Tigray, a long-disputed area bordering the Amhara region, involving federal government forces and Tigrayan regional fighters. The incidents represent the most serious flare-up since the 2022 Pretoria Agreement, which ended large-scale hostilities between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
Amid the renewed tensions, Ethiopian Airlines on 29 January suspended all flights to Tigray, including services to Mekelle, Shire, and Axum. Passengers affected by the cancellations said they received short text messages citing “unplanned circumstances” and instructions from authorities. Airline officials declined to give further details, though sources familiar with the decision said it followed security assessments.
The state-owned carrier is the only airline operating domestic flights to Tigray. No timeline was announced for the resumption of services, a move that mirrors similar flight suspensions during periods of unrest in other parts of the country, including Amhara in 2023.
Western Tigray has remained a disputed area since the end of the earlier conflict. The territory has been administered by the neighbouring Amhara region since the 2022 peace agreement, while its status continues to be discussed by stakeholders, alongside unresolved issues related to displacement and administration.
Residents and local administrators in Tigray said fighting was reported in parts of Tselemti district, where armed confrontations were ongoing. Unconfirmed accounts suggest that Tigrayan forces pushed back federal troops in some locations, though independent verification has not been possible due to restricted access. Military officials have not released casualty figures, and both sides have blamed each other for triggering the clashes.
Security sources also reported increased troop movements around the Wolkayit area, while sporadic fighting was reported in Michara. Local residents said the sound of drones was heard in some areas, though the extent of any aerial operations could not be independently confirmed.
The unrest has heightened anxiety among civilians. In Mekelle and other towns, residents reported long queues at banks as people rushed to withdraw cash amid concerns about possible financial restrictions. Some residents cited reports of frozen accounts and delayed federal payments, raising concerns about renewed economic pressure similar to that experienced during the 2020–2022 war.
Economic conditions in Tigray remain fragile, with many public sector workers facing salary delays and communities still recovering from years of conflict and aid disruptions. Humanitarian groups operating in the region say food insecurity remains widespread, worsened by reductions in international assistance over the past year.
The tensions have also coincided with renewed instability elsewhere in Ethiopia. In neighbouring Amhara, clashes have continued between federal forces and Fano militias, including recent incidents in areas such as Sinan, according to regional security sources. Analysts say the overlapping crises reflect ongoing security challenges facing the federal government.
Some international partners are monitoring the situation. Existing travel advisories issued by several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, continue to caution against non-essential travel to parts of Ethiopia due to security concerns. Eritrean officials, responding to public commentary, have said Eritrea is not a party to the renewed tensions and maintains that it has no territorial claims in western Tigray.
The renewed instability comes against a complex regional backdrop, with Ethiopia facing diplomatic tensions with several neighbours over issues including port access and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Regional analysts say these broader pressures have contributed to an already fragile domestic environment.
Developments in the region continue to unfold, with access restrictions limiting independent confirmation and official information still emerging.
