Ethiopia’s Tigray region sees Mekelle airport captured by regional forces
Tigrayan forces have seized Mekelle airport from federal police, escalating tensions in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region. Ethiopian Airlines suspended flights amid safety concerns. Recent drone strikes have caused casualties, with accusations against federal forces. The Tigray People's Liberation Front formed an alliance with six armed groups aiming to remove the Addis Ababa government, threatening the fragile peace established in 2022.
Brève Publié le (Africa/Lagos, UTC+1) · date de l'événement : 2026-09-22
Tigrayan forces have seized control of Mekelle airport in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region from federal police, escalating tensions and raising fears of a return to conflict after the 2022 war.
The move prompted Ethiopian Airlines to suspend flights to Mekelle, Shire, and Axum due to the unstable situation.
Recent drone strikes in Tigray have reportedly killed at least 14 people and injured 22 in the town of Alamata, with local authorities accusing federal forces of targeting schools. These allegations have not been independently verified, and the Ethiopian federal government has not publicly responded.
Additionally, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front announced an alliance with six armed groups aiming to remove the government in Addis Ababa, further threatening the fragile peace established under an African Union-mediated agreement in November 2022.
The conflict in Tigray was one of the deadliest in recent years, with an estimated 600,000 deaths. The recent developments have renewed concerns that the fragile peace could collapse.