Ethiopia war: Internet disrupted in Tigray

Internet and call services have been disrupted in Ethiopia’s northern region of Tigray after fighting broke out this week between regional forces and the national army.

Services provided by state-owned telecoms operator Ethio Telecom have been completely cut, although those from the much smaller private firm Safaricom remain operational. Internet monitoring group NetBlocks earlier posted on X that network data indicated a sub-national internet shutdown in northern Tigray.

“Last night telecommunications got knocked out,” Duke Burbridge, an American humanitarian worker in Tigray’s capital, Mekelle, told the BBC’s Newsday programme.

The BBC has contacted Ethiopia’s authorities for comment.

Burbridge said there had been a scarcity of cash in Tigray for the past eight months, with people unable to access ATMs so the lack of internet services would be “devastating for everybody”.

Many people rely on banking and mobile money applications for transactions, with the majority using Ethio Telecom and Safaricom’s networks to access these services.

Clashes between Tigrayan forces and their allies and Ethiopia’s federal troops broke out on Wednesday, prompting heightened tension and reports of panic buying.

During the two-year civil which ended in 2022, Tigray was totally cut off from the outside world.

Limited access to cash, food and medicine pushed hundreds of thousands into famine-like conditions.

Additional reporting by Peter Mwai, BBC Verify