The United Nations (UN) has expressed ‘grave’ concern over the continued deterioration of the security situations across northern Ethiopia, as fighting between forces of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) spreads across multiple fronts and increasingly disrupts humanitarian operations.
A statement issued by the UN quoted spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric as saying that the UN was “particularly troubled by reports of the use of drones as well as incidents of harm to civilians,” and again urged all parties to “exercise maximum restraint and address their differences through dialogue.”
He said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was following developments closely and continues to engage on the issue with leaders in New York in a bid to de-escalate the growing crisis – which threatens to return the country to the state of full-scale war in the north which erupted in Tigray in 2020.
According to news reports, internet and call services have been largely cut across the Tigray region. Many rely on banking and mobile transactions due to lack of access to cash and bank ATMs.
The 2020–2022 Tigray war began after political tensions between Ethiopia’s federal government and the region’s former ruling party, the TPLF, erupted into fighting between Government troops and Tigrayan militia in November 2020.
The UN said internet and telecommunications services have reportedly been disrupted or rendered non-functional in Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, and parts of Amhara, while roads have reportedly been blocked in parts of Afar.
Air travel in Tigray has also been significantly affected after Ethiopian Airlines suspended flights to Mekelle, Axum and Shire following the reported takeover of the three airports by TPLF forces on 23 September.
The UN rights chief also condemned what he described as an ongoing campaign of forced mass recruitment of civilians including children, by the TPLF across Tigray. According to the UN, the campaign has been accompanied by reports of killings, torture, arbitrary detention, forced displacement and other reprisals against people resisting recruitment and their family members.
The UN said those reportedly targeted for forced recruitment include former combatants who were demobilized in late 2025. It also said there have been disturbing reports of arbitrary conscription by government forces.
MG/abj/APA