Internet Disrupted in Ethiopia Amid Ongoing Conflict

Internet access was disrupted in northern Ethiopia on Friday, according to online monitor Netblocks, as conflict between federal forces and Tigray rebels continued. AFP confirmed connection difficulties in the region.

Rebels in the Tigray region seized local airports and launched attacks into neighboring states, claiming they were engaged in a 'full-blown war' with the federal government. Fighting intensified this week, with reports of heavy combat in North Wollo Zone of Amhara, including areas near UNESCO World Heritage sites in Lalibela.

Locals in Tigray expressed fear of a repeat of the telecoms blackout and supply blockades that occurred during the last civil war in 2020-2022, which resulted in an estimated 600,000 deaths. Samuel Gebreslassie, a spice shop worker in Mekelle, described 'panic in the community' as people rushed to stockpile basic goods.

The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) formed an anti-government alliance last weekend with the Fano in Amhara and five other armed groups. Analysts suggest the TPLF is repeating its strategy from the last war, pushing south toward Addis Ababa while targeting supply routes from Djibouti.

The conflict could also involve Eritrea, which fears Ethiopia may attempt to invade to gain access to the Red Sea. The dynamics have shifted since the last civil war, when Eritrea and the Fano fought alongside the government against the Tigrayans, only to be sidelined after a 2022 peace deal.