Internet connectivity has been disrupted in northern Ethiopia, according to internet monitor NetBlocks, as renewed fighting between federal forces and Tigrayan forces raises fears of a return to the communications blackout experienced during the region’s previous war.
NetBlocks said on Friday that network data confirmed a subnational internet disruption in northern Ethiopia, consistent with reports of a telecommunications blackout in Tigray.
“Confirmed: Network data indicate a subnational internet disruption in northern Ethiopia corresponding to reports of a telecoms blackout in Tigray,” the organisation said in a post on social media.
The cause of the disruption was not immediately known.
Spokespeople for Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, which controls the region, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The disruption comes as fighting has intensified between federal troops and Tigrayan forces and their allies, marking the most serious escalation since the conflict that ended with a peace agreement in November 2022.
A Tigrayan source living outside Ethiopia told Reuters that they had been unable to contact people in Tigray, while relatives in Addis Ababa were also experiencing difficulties communicating with people in the region.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the communication problems had raised fears of a repeat of conditions during the 2020–2022 war, when Tigray was largely cut off from the outside world.
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During that conflict, telecommunications were severed and access to food, cash and medicines was severely restricted, contributing to widespread humanitarian hardship.
The latest fighting has seen Tigrayan forces seize three local airports and launch attacks in neighbouring Afar and Amhara regions alongside allied forces, according to reports.
The renewed violence has also triggered panic-buying in Tigray, with residents telling Reuters that people rushed to shops on Wednesday and Thursday to stock up on basic supplies and withdraw cash.
The resulting rush left some shop shelves depleted as residents prepared for possible shortages amid the escalating conflict.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
