Ethiopian Airlines Suspends Flights as Tigray Forces Seize Regional Airports
Mekelle, 23 September 2026
Tigrayan forces have seized three key airports, forcing Ethiopian Airlines to suspend flights. The escalation threatens the fragile 2022 peace agreement and raises fears of renewed civil war.
Sudden Seizure of Key Aviation Hubs
The security situation in northern Ethiopia deteriorated sharply overnight into Wednesday, 23 September 2026, as forces aligned with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) seized control of three federally administered civilian airports in Mekelle, Axum, and Shire [1][2][3]. The rapid takeover included Alula Aba Nega Airport in the regional capital of Mekelle, which was captured from federal police units [4][5]. In response, the state-owned national carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, immediately suspended all civilian flights to the Tigray region, citing the rapidly evolving security situation [3][4][5]. The African Union (AU) confirmed that federal personnel were detained during the operations, leading to an immediate disruption of civilian air services across the northern territories [1].
A Deadly Escalation and New Military Alliances
The airport seizures followed a series of intense military developments and escalating hostilities. On Tuesday, 22 September 2026, a devastating aerial strike involving more than five drones and one fighter jet hit the southern town of Alamata [3]. The bombardment, which consisted of over 21 individual strikes starting at approximately 03:30, targeted two secondary schools previously used as military bases during the civil war [3]. According to Alamata Mayor Mogos Shiferaw, the attack resulted in at least 14 deaths and 22 injuries, causing a total of 36 casualties and sparking widespread panic among the local population [3]. Tigrayan authorities condemned the strike as an “open invasion” and a direct violation of international humanitarian law [3]. This incident followed a US State Department report on 21 September 2026 that condemned a drone strike targeting a convoy of Catholic vehicles transporting food aid [3]. These hostilities occur against the backdrop of a major political shift; on Sunday, 20 September 2026, the TPLF announced a new military and political alliance with six other Ethiopian armed groups, representing factions from Amhara, Oromia, Ogaden, Afar, and Benishangul-Gumuz, with the explicit goal of removing the federal government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed [2][3][5].
Threats to the Pretoria Peace Agreement
The sudden escalation has placed the fragile Pretoria Agreement under unprecedented strain. Signed on 2 November 2022, the AU-brokered peace deal successfully ended a devastating two-year civil war that had resulted in an estimated 600,000 deaths and severe famine conditions [3]. However, relations between Addis Ababa and the TPLF have steadily eroded. In May 2026, the TPLF unilaterally restored its pre-war administration, effectively seizing control of the regional government from the interim administration established under the peace deal [3][5]. In July 2026, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed used a parliamentary address to accuse the TPLF of actively preparing for a renewed conflict [3]. The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, stated on 23 September 2026 that the seizure of the airports is entirely inconsistent with the commitments of the Pretoria Agreement [1]. The AU has requested Olusegun Obasanjo, the AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa, to urgently engage both parties to halt further escalation [1].
Direct Implications for Regional Stability and Refugees
For the thousands of Ethiopian refugees currently residing in regional camps such as Kakuma and Kalobeyei in Kenya, this sudden return to active conflict represents a major setback [GPT]. The escalation severely dampens hopes of safe, voluntary repatriation to their home communities, as border safety and regional stability are once again compromised [GPT]. In the wider Turkana region, which hosts these refugee settlements, any influx of newly displaced persons is bound to place additional pressure on shared resources, affecting both the host communities and the existing refugee population [GPT]. With the AU warning neighbouring countries to refrain from any actions that could exacerbate the conflict, the threat of a wider regional crisis remains high as diplomatic channels scramble to keep the peace process alive [1].