Internet disruption cuts northern Ethiopia off as Tigray fighting intensifies

A telecommunications blackout is adding a new layer of uncertainty to northern Ethiopia as fighting between federal forces and Tigrayan forces intensifies, cutting residents off from relatives and making developments on the ground harder to verify.

Global internet monitor NetBlocks said on Friday that its network data showed a disruption across northern Ethiopia, consistent with reports of a wider telecommunications blackout in Tigray.

AFP also reported connection difficulties when trying to reach people in the region.

“Network data indicate a subnational internet disruption in northern Ethiopia corresponding to reports of a telecoms blackout in Tigray,” NetBlocks said.

The cause of the disruption has not been established.

Families struggle to reach loved ones

The communications problems come as fighting has spread beyond Tigray, raising fears that the region could again become isolated.

Reuters reported that people in Tigray had rushed to shops to buy basic supplies and withdraw cash as fears of a wider conflict grew.

Some residents and people outside the region have also struggled to contact relatives.

For families with loved ones in conflict areas, the loss of reliable communications can quickly become more than an inconvenience. It can make it difficult to establish whether relatives are safe, access information about movement restrictions or obtain updates on shortages.

It also creates challenges for journalists and humanitarian organisations trying to independently verify reports from areas where fighting is taking place.

Fighting spreads beyond Tigray

The internet disruption comes days after violence erupted again in northern Ethiopia.

Tigrayan forces have launched attacks in neighbouring Afar and Amhara, while federal forces have responded militarily.

A humanitarian source in Afar told AFP that there was heavy fighting overnight around Abala, near the border with Tigray. The source said federal forces pushed the Tigrayan fighters away from the town.

AFP was unable to reach sources in Tigray by telephone on Friday.

The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has described the latest escalation as a return to full-scale war, while the federal government and allied forces remain engaged in fighting across the region.

The situation is fluid, and independent verification of battlefield claims remains difficult.

Memories of the 2020–2022 war

The communications blackout has particular significance in Tigray because residents experienced a prolonged loss of telecommunications during the previous war.

The conflict between the federal government and the TPLF lasted from 2020 until a peace agreement was reached in November 2022.

During that conflict, much of Tigray was cut off from the outside world. Restrictions on communications and access to essential supplies made it difficult for families outside the region to know what was happening to relatives.

The humanitarian consequences were severe.

The African Union-backed peace process eventually produced the Pretoria Agreement in November 2022, bringing an end to the major fighting.

The renewed violence is now raising fears that some of those conditions could return.

Cause of latest blackout remains unclear

There is currently no confirmed explanation for the latest telecommunications disruption.

Neither Ethiopia's federal government nor the TPLF had immediately provided a public explanation for the outage when the disruption was reported.

That distinction is important.

The network monitoring data can establish that connectivity has been disrupted. They do not, by themselves, establish who ordered or caused the shutdown.

For now, the blackout is unfolding alongside a rapidly changing security situation.

As fighting continues, the loss of communications could make it harder to establish the scale of the violence, track civilian needs and independently verify competing claims from the parties to the conflict.

For residents of Tigray, the concern is more immediate: being unable to reach family members at a time when the region is once again facing war.

About the Author

Maureen Onyango is a journalist passionate about storytelling, life coaching and spiritual lessons. She studied at the Kenya Institute of Management and enjoys telling stories that inform, inspire and empower communities.