Communications networks in Ethiopia’s Tigray region experienced significant disruption following the outbreak of armed conflict this week between regional forces and federal troops. State-owned Ethio Telecom services were completely cut off, though private provider Safaricom remained partially operational. Internet monitoring organizations detected what they characterized as a sub-national shutdown affecting the northern part of the region.
Accounts from those in Tigray’s capital, Mekelle, indicated the telecommunications blackout created immediate hardship for residents. One humanitarian worker described the disruption as particularly damaging given the region’s existing cash shortage, which had persisted for eight months prior to the renewed fighting. The lack of connectivity prevented access to banking and mobile money applications that residents relied upon for financial transactions, compounding economic difficulties in the area.
Reports attributed the communications blackout to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, the regional force controlling the area, with sources suggesting the action was intended to disrupt government drone operations. The blackout also complicated efforts by international media organizations to document developments on the ground, as visual evidence of the conflict remained limited.
The resumption of large-scale fighting marked a significant escalation in regional tensions. The TPLF had announced an alliance with six other armed groups and seized three regional airports from federal control. The fighting included reports of heavy engagements in multiple locations, prompting international travel warnings and comparisons to the previous two-year conflict that concluded in 2022. That earlier conflict resulted in severe humanitarian consequences, including famine-like conditions affecting hundreds of thousands of people.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI