Tigray Crisis Deepens as Internet Disrupted Amid Renewed Fighting

GOOBJOOG NEWS | ADDIS ABABA: Internet and telephone networks have been disrupted in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region as renewed fighting between federal forces and Tigrayan forces enters its second week, raising concerns over civilian access to information and essential services.

Internet monitor NetBlocks said it had detected a disruption in northern Ethiopia consistent with reports of a telecommunications blackout in Tigray. Reuters also reported that calls and messages on Ethio telecom’s network were not going through in the region, while connectivity on Safaricom’s network was limited.

The disruption comes amid the most serious escalation of fighting in northern Ethiopia since the 2020-2022 Tigray war. Tigrayan forces have seized control of airports in Mekelle, Axum and Shire, according to the African Union and the United Nations, while fighting has also been reported in parts of Tigray and neighbouring Afar and Amhara regions.

The cause of the communications disruption was initially unclear. Reuters reported that four people familiar with the matter, including a diplomatic source, said the Tigray People’s Liberation Front had ordered Safaricom and state-owned Ethio telecom to cut access to phone and internet services. A source close to the TPLF denied that it was responsible and blamed the federal government. Neither side has publicly provided independent evidence establishing responsibility for the disruption.

The communications problems have made it more difficult to verify reports from the conflict zone, including information about fighting, casualties and territorial control. The United Nations has warned that interruptions to internet and telecommunications are increasing risks to civilians as hostilities spread across northern Ethiopia.

The latest fighting follows growing political and military tensions between the federal government and Tigrayan authorities. Earlier this week, the TPLF joined six other Ethiopian armed groups in forming the Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival, a coalition that says it seeks to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government. The alliance brings together groups from several regions that have previously been involved in Ethiopia’s internal conflicts.

The renewed violence has also raised concerns over the future of the November 2022 Pretoria peace agreement, which ended the two-year Tigray war. The African Union has called on the parties to exercise restraint and return to direct talks under the agreement, while the United Nations has urged all sides to de-escalate and protect civilians.

The communications blackout has revived memories of the previous war, when Tigray was largely cut off from the outside world for extended periods. The loss of communications during that conflict severely affected access to information, financial services and humanitarian assistance.

The latest crisis is unfolding as fighting spreads beyond Tigray and threatens to disrupt humanitarian operations and civilian movement across northern Ethiopia. The United Nations has warned against actions that could turn the current escalation into a broader conflict.

Additional reporting by agencies