Ethiopian Airlines cancels flights to Tigray amid concerns over renewed fighting

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — Ethiopian Airlines canceled all flights to the troubled northern region of Tigray on Wednesday morning, the state-owned carrier announced amid fears of an escalation in fighting between federal and regional forces.

The cancellations came three days after seven opposition groups, including the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, formed an alliance aimed at removing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his government.

Abiy’s Prosperity Party retained power in a June general election that was boycotted by the main opposition groups.

On Wednesday, Ethiopian Airlines said it had suspended flights to Tigray’s capital Mekelle and the cities of Axum and Shire “due to the current situation,” without providing further details.

No other airlines fly to the region, although it is still reachable by chartered flight.

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front fought federal forces during a deadly conflict in northern Ethiopia that ended with the signing of a peace agreement in November 2022.

The opposition groups announced the formation of a coalition they called the Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival on Sunday.

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