Ethiopian Airlines cancels flights to Tigray capital as soldiers take over airport

Ethiopian Airlines has cancelled flights to Mekelle, the capital of Ethiopia's Tigray region, after soldiers took over the airport there, according to ABC News. The suspension of service comes amid mounting concerns over renewed fighting in Tigray, where a devastating two-year war between Ethiopian federal forces and Tigrayan forces ended with a November 2022 peace agreement. The airline's decision to halt flights is a concrete sign that security conditions on the ground have deteriorated, since Mekelle airport had been a key civilian link for the region after the war. The reported takeover of the airport by soldiers suggests armed actors are again asserting control over critical infrastructure in the region. No casualty figures, statements from Ethiopian authorities, or details on the identity of the soldiers involved have been reported in the available material. The cancellation leaves travelers and humanitarian cargo reliant on road routes that were heavily disrupted during the previous conflict.

Global Impact

Geopolitically, the airport takeover and flight suspension test the durability of the 2022 Pretoria peace deal and could draw renewed scrutiny from the African Union and Western governments that backed the agreement. Economically, a return to conflict would further strain Ethiopia's already fragile finances, including its ongoing sovereign debt restructuring, and could deter foreign investment in aviation, telecoms, and agriculture.