Latest news on the conflict in the Tigray region of Ethiopia and TPLF today...

Mekelle (Caasimada Online) – Internet and telephone services have been severely disrupted in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia today, Friday, as heavy fighting has erupted this week between federal government forces and Tigray forces.

These battles are among the most intense to occur in the region since a peace agreement ended the bloody conflict that took place in Ethiopia between 2020 and 2022.

Four sources familiar with the matter, including a diplomat, told Reuters that the ruling party in Tigray, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), has ordered Ethio Telecom and Safaricom to halt internet and telephone services in the region.

One of the sources indicated that this action may be part of an attempt by Tigray forces to reduce the advantage federal troops gain from unmanned aerial vehicles.

Disrupting telephone networks could hinder government forces from connecting some drones or utilizing communication networks in combat areas.

TPLF did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters regarding this matter. However, a source close to the group, who wished to remain anonymous, denied that TPLF is behind the communication blackout, placing the blame on the federal government.

Calls and messages sent by Reuters reporters to phones using the Ethio Telecom network did not work on Friday, while Safaricom customers could access services in limited areas.

The organization NetBlocks, which monitors global internet conditions, also confirmed that there is a significant disruption to internet services in northern Ethiopia.

The office of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Ethio Telecom, and Safaricom Ethiopia did not respond to requests for comments sent to them.

Concerns over the previous war situation

The communication blackout has heightened fears that the people of Tigray may once again face a situation similar to that of the 2020-2022 conflict.

During that war, the federal government long cut communication services to Tigray, while access to food, money, and medicine became severely restricted.

This situation left hundreds of thousands of people in conditions that aid agencies described as close to famine.

The renewed fighting this week has already forced residents of Tigray to urgently purchase food and other essential supplies, as well as withdraw cash from banks.

Local people told Reuters that many shops and stores are running out of goods due to the public buying in large quantities out of fear.

Residents of the Tigray capital, Mekelle, reported that Ethio Telecom services stopped on Thursday evening, which also affected money transfer services.

“Even Safaricom is not working everywhere. You have to move around to find a network,” said a person living in Mekelle who spoke to Reuters.

Conflict escalating

Tigray forces and their allies have taken control of three airports this week and have launched attacks on federal troops in the neighboring Afar and Amhara regions.

TPLF has described the fighting as defensive against what it calls aggression from the Abiy Ahmed government.

The federal government of Ethiopia, for its part, has accused Eritrea of financially supporting TPLF and its allies, an accusation that the Eritrean government has denied.

Some Tigray residents have also reported seeing young people being forced to join the fighting.

“TPLF fighters are now going door to door looking for young people. I am hiding at home, and I haven’t gone to work,” a person living in the town of Maichew told Reuters.

A risk assessment shared with diplomats this month, which Reuters has seen, indicated that TPLF had previously taken steps to disrupt communication services, including removing equipment owned by Ethio Telecom in several towns.

Ethiopian forces have heavily relied on unmanned aerial vehicles in previous battles, and it is believed they possess a significant number of drones acquired from abroad and domestically produced.

The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) has reported that federal forces have been using drones to conduct attacks against targets in Tigray...