Key facts
- Internet and phone networks were disrupted in Ethiopia's Tigray region on Friday.
- Sources indicated the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) may have ordered the shutdown.
- The TPLF denied responsibility and blamed the government.
- The disruption follows the most serious escalation of violence since the 2020-2022 war.
- Residents reported that Ethio telecom stopped working late Thursday, cutting off mobile money transfer services.
- NetBlocks confirmed the internet disruption in the area.
Internet and phone networks were disrupted in the northern Ethiopian region of Tigray on Friday, following a significant escalation of violence between the federal military and Tigrayan forces. Four individuals with knowledge of the situation, including a diplomatic source, informed Reuters that the TPLF had instructed Safaricom and Ethio telecom to cut off network access in the region. One source suggested this measure might be a tactic to neutralize the federal military's advantage in battlefield drones by preventing network access. However, a source close to the TPLF denied responsibility and attributed the disruption to the government.
Reuters reporters experienced issues with Ethio telecom calls and messages, and noted limited connectivity for Safaricom customers. NetBlocks, an internet outage monitor, confirmed the disruption. The shutdown has raised concerns about a return to the severe conditions of the 2020-2022 war, when communication blackouts and restricted access to essential supplies led to famine-like conditions for hundreds of thousands.
Residents reported that Ethio telecom ceased functioning late Thursday, impacting crucial mobile money services. A resident of the regional capital, Mekelle, stated that Safaricom also had inconsistent service, requiring movement to find connectivity. Some residents also reported forced recruitment by TPLF fighters. Earlier in the month, a risk advisory note indicated the TPLF had taken steps to disrupt telecommunications by removing Ethio telecom transformers. The Ethiopian military's use of drones, which the TPLF is not known to possess, provides a significant battlefield advantage. Flights to Lalibela airport in Amhara were suspended due to nearby fighting.