Key facts
- At least 52 civilians killed in three days of fighting around Alamata, Tigray.
- Government troops appear to have taken control of Alamata.
- 33 tourists were stranded for a week in Lalibela, Amhara region.
- MSF admitted over 700 wounded people to hospitals in Tigray.
- Banking services and internet access have been suspended in Tigray.
- The TPLF and the government accuse each other of starting the fighting.
Heavy fighting has erupted in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region, resulting in the deaths of at least 52 civilians over three days, according to hospital sources who spoke to the BBC. Government troops appear to have gained control of the town of Alamata and are reportedly planning to advance north towards Mekelle, the regional capital. Social media footage shows army tanks in Alamata.
The renewed clashes follow months of escalating tensions between the federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which governs the region. Both sides accuse each other of violating a 2022 peace deal that ended a two-year civil war.
Fighting has also spread to neighboring regions, including the Amhara region, where 33 tourists have been stranded for a week in Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage site. A British tourist reported hearing continuous gunfire and artillery fire throughout the week, with a significant military presence in the area. The clashes near Lalibela involve the army and an Amhara militia allied with Tigrayan fighters.
Earlier in September, the TPLF and other Ethiopian armed groups formed an alliance with the stated goal of ousting the government in Addis Ababa. There are also concerns that neighboring Eritrea could be drawn into the conflict, as the Ethiopian government accuses Asmara of supporting the armed groups, an accusation Eritrea denies.
The BBC has been unable to independently verify events in Tigray and surrounding areas due to communication blackouts. The 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 the Afar region, a crucial corridor connecting landlocked Ethiopia to Djibouti's ports. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported admitting over 700 wounded individuals to its supported hospitals in Tigray in recent days. A doctor at Alamata General Hospital described intense fighting with heavy explosives and artillery, some of which hit residential areas, killing civilians including very young children, mothers, and herders. Twelve people died in a single strike on the town's marketplace.
In response to the conflict, the Ethiopian government has suspended banking services and cut internet access in Tigray. A source in Alamata described a worsening humanitarian crisis, with residents fleeing surrounding areas seeking safety in the town, only to find services blocked, leading to desperation and suffering.
In Lalibela, while online banking functions, there is a shortage of physical cash. The situation around the town has reportedly calmed in the last two days, with indications that the airport, currently used by the military, might reopen soon. Some tourists have been evacuated, but others, including a large group of Americans, remain stranded along with other nationalities.
To help families separated by the communications blackout in Tigray, the Tigray Broadcasting Service (TBS) in Addis Ababa has launched an initiative to collect and air video messages via satellite TV. The suspension of banking services in Tigray also affects Tigrayans outside the region, with some reporting frozen or restricted bank accounts, causing significant hardship for those who had relocated due to previous tensions.