Ethiopian Airlines suspended flights to Tigray on Wednesday, including to the regional capital of Mekelle, after Tigrayan forces reportedly seized the airport there from federal police as fighting and political tensions in northern Ethiopia escalate.
The state-owned carrier said flights to Mekelle, Axum and Shire were suspended “due to the current situation in Tigray region” without elaborating, Reuters reported.
According to three local sources who spoke with Reuters, Tigrayan forces overcame federal police to seize Mekelle Airport overnight. The report could not be independently verified and officials with the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front did not comment immediately.
The move comes after months of deterioration in relations between the Ethiopian federal government and the TPLF. The two sides waged a devastating war from 2020 to 2022 before signing a peace agreement in November that year.
Tensions have heightened after the TPLF and six other armed groups announced an alliance to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Reuters reported that Tigrayan forces were said to have fought renewed clashes and carried out drone strikes in recent months.
Ethiopian Airlines said there were no further details immediately available on the suspension of flights.
