Key facts
- Internet and phone services were disrupted in Ethiopia's Tigray region following renewed fighting.
- State-owned Ethio Telecom services were completely cut, while private firm Safaricom has limited connectivity.
- The disruption follows the most serious escalation of violence since the 2020-2022 civil war.
- Residents reported that the lack of internet services is devastating, impacting banking and mobile money transactions.
- NetBlocks confirmed the internet disruption in northern Tigray.
Internet and phone services have been disrupted in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region following renewed fighting between regional forces and the national army. State-owned Ethio Telecom services have been completely cut, while those from the smaller private firm Safaricom remain operational with limited connectivity. Internet monitoring group NetBlocks confirmed the sub-national internet shutdown in northern Tigray. Humanitarian workers described the situation as devastating for residents who rely on mobile money applications for transactions, especially given a scarcity of cash in the region for the past eight months. Clashes between Tigrayan forces and Ethiopia's federal troops broke out on Wednesday, marking a significant escalation since the end of the two-year civil war in 2022. During that conflict, Tigray was cut off from the outside world, leading to famine-like conditions for hundreds of thousands due to restricted access to cash, food, and medicine.