Ethiopia Faces Renewed Conflict as Tigray Fighting Claims Dozens of Civilian Lives

At least 52 civilians have been killed in three days of intense fighting around Alamata in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region, according to hospital sources who spoke with the BBC. Government troops appear to have taken control of Alamata from regional fighters and are preparing to advance further north towards Mekelle, the regional capital. Social media footage depicts army tanks moving through the streets of Alamata.

The current clashes erupted last week, following months of heightened tensions between the federal government and the party that governs Tigray. Both sides have accused each other of violating a 2022 peace agreement that aimed to end a two-year civil war.

Spillover into Neighboring Regions and Stranded Tourists

The conflict has also impacted neighboring regions, leading to the stranding of 33 tourists in Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Tourists in Lalibela, renowned for its 13th-century rock-hewn churches, reported hearing gunfire and artillery throughout the week. A significant military presence has been observed in the town. Most visitors have been unable to depart since the local airport suspended commercial flights last Wednesday, although 14 Israeli tourists were evacuated by military helicopter.

The fighting near Lalibela involves the Ethiopian army and an Amhara militia that has aligned itself with Tigrayan fighters. Earlier in September, these groups, along with other Ethiopian armed movements, formed a seven-member alliance with the stated goal of ousting the government in Addis Ababa.

Concerns also exist about potential involvement from neighboring Eritrea. The Ethiopian government has accused Asmara of supporting the armed groups, an accusation Eritrea denies.

Communication Blackouts and Humanitarian Concerns

Communications to Tigray and surrounding areas have been severed, making it difficult to ascertain the full extent of the situation. The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) claims it was responding to a federal offensive, including drone strikes, while the government asserts that Tigrayan forces initiated the conflict by seizing regional airports.

TPLF fighters are also engaged in combat in the Afar region, a strategically important area connecting landlocked Ethiopia to the port of Djibouti.

Medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported admitting over 700 wounded individuals to hospitals it supports in Tigray in recent days. A doctor at Alamata General Hospital described heavy explosives and artillery fire in and around the town between Saturday and Monday, with some munitions impacting residential areas. Casualties included children and adults, with twelve people reportedly killed in an attack on the town's marketplace.

Following the escalation of fighting, the government has suspended banking services in Tigray, and internet access has been cut. Residents fleeing the fighting have contributed to a worsening humanitarian situation in Alamata, with limited access to essential services and financial resources.

Efforts to Reconnect Families and Financial Disruptions

The Tigray Broadcasting Service (TBS) has launched an initiative to help reconnect families separated by the communications blackout, collecting video messages from individuals outside the region to air via satellite TV. The suspension of banking services is also creating hardship for Tigrayans not physically located in the region, with bank accounts opened in Tigray reportedly frozen or restricted, causing significant disruption for those who had relocated due to prior tensions.