Ethiopian Airlines Resumes Tigray Flights Amidst Renewed Conflict Fears

Resumption of Flights to Tigray

• ✈️ Ethiopian Airlines has resumed flights to the northern Tigray region.
• ⚠️ This resumption follows a brief suspension due to clashes between regional and national forces.

Lingering Tensions and Fears

• 😟 The recent clashes have reignited fears of renewed conflict among residents in Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region.
• 📉 A vegetable seller expressed concerns that instability could once again destroy livelihoods and push young people towards war.

Background of Conflict

• 💥 Clashes, including drone strikes, reportedly occurred at the end of January, resulting in casualties.
• ⚔️ The Ethiopian national army and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) engaged in a two-year conflict until late 2022.
• 💔 The previous war caused hundreds of thousands of deaths due to direct violence and the collapse of essential services like healthcare and food supply.

Unresolved Disagreements

• 🕊️ Despite a peace pact signed in November 2022, significant disagreements persist.
• 🗺️ Key issues include disputes over contested territories in western Tigray and the delayed disarmament of Tigrayan forces.