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Tigrayan forces seize Mekelle airport amid renewed fighting in Ethiopia
Tigrayan forces have reportedly seized control of Alula Aba Nega Airport in Mekelle, the capital of Ethiopia’s Tigray region, from federal police. This escalation follows the announcement by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) of a new alliance with six other armed groups aimed at overthrowing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government.
Fighting has also been reported in the neighboring Afar and Amhara regions. In Afar, clashes have occurred in areas such as Abala and Erebti, involving Tigrayan forces and a combination of federal troops and local militias. The renewed hostilities threaten the stability of the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement, which ended a conflict that resulted in an estimated 600,000 deaths.
In response to the security situation, Ethiopian Airlines has suspended all scheduled flights to Mekelle, Axum, and Shire. The takeover of the strategic airport hub has raised concerns regarding regional economic stability and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Entities
Abiy Ahmed · Afar · Alula Aba Nega Airport · Ethiopia · Ethiopian Airlines · Mekelle · Tigray People's Liberation Front · Tigray People’s Liberation Front
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 20 SOURCES] Tigrayan rebel forces reportedly seized control of Alula Aba Nega Airport in Mekelle. kulu-media.com · businesselitesafrica.com · ntvkenya.co.ke · www.albiladpress.com · bahamasspectator.com · +14 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The TPLF announced an alliance with six other armed groups to overthrow the federal government. ntvkenya.co.ke · www.albiladpress.com · bahamasspectator.com · nairobinews.co.ke · www.somaliguardian.com · +3 more
- [● 22 SOURCES] Ethiopian Airlines suspended all scheduled flights to Mekelle, Axum, and Shire. kulu-media.com · businesselitesafrica.com · ntvkenya.co.ke · www.albiladpress.com · bahamasspectator.com · +16 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Ethiopian military has conducted several drone strikes against Tigrayan forces in recent months. kulu-media.com · ntvkenya.co.ke
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The border clash involved Tigray regional forces against a combination of the Tigray Peace Force, Ethiopian federal forces, and Afar militia. kulu-media.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Clashes occurred on the evening of September 22 in the Tonsa kebele of the Megale district. kulu-media.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Tigrayan rebel forces reportedly seized control of the Alula Aba Nega Airport in Mekelle. businesselitesafrica.com · ntvkenya.co.ke
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Clashes occurred on the evening of September 22 in the Tonsa kebele of the Megale district in the Afar region. kulu-media.com
- [● 11 SOURCES] The 2020-2022 conflict in Ethiopia resulted in approximately 600,000 deaths according to African Union estimates. www.albiladpress.com · dailydigest.ie · nairobinews.co.ke · arabic.euronews.com · es.euronews.com · +5 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] The 2020-2022 conflict in Ethiopia resulted in at least 600,000 deaths. www.albiladpress.com · dailydigest.ie · nairobinews.co.ke · arabic.euronews.com · es.euronews.com · +3 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] TPLF forces launched an offensive against government positions in Afar and Amhara regions. namibiadailynews.info · www.somalitimes.co.uk
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Clashes occurred in the Megale district involving Tigray regional forces and a coalition of federal and Afar forces. kulu-media.com