Explosions in Addis Ababa Mark Dangerous New Phase in Ethiopia Conflict
Renewed civil war in Ethiopia reaches the capital of Addis Ababa with reported drone strikes, threatening regional stability and exacerbating a severe humanitarian crisis across the country.
Explosions heard in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, mark a dangerous new phase in the country's renewed fighting. According to a report by The Washington Post, alleged drone strikes on the capital highlight the rapid spread of the conflict. Battles between government forces and rebel groups in the northern part of the country have claimed many civilian lives in recent days and are spilling southward toward the pilgrimage city of Lalibela, where all flights have recently been canceled.
The current conflict effectively continues the brutal civil war that ended in a fragile peace agreement in 2022 after claiming the lives of over half a million people. Now, rebels from the Tigray region have joined a coalition of six other armed groups across the country against the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. While Eritrea fought alongside the Ethiopian government in the previous war, Addis Ababa now accuses the dictatorial neighbor of actively supporting the rebels.
Regional Escalation and Geopolitical Tensions
The danger of a comprehensive regional flare-up is more palpable than ever. Tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, a country with a coastline of over 1,600 kilometers, are reaching a boiling point. Relations deteriorated partly after Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland in 2024 to gain access to the port of Berbera. All of this is happening as Sudan deals with its own brutal civil war, and Houthi rebels in Yemen establish themselves along the Red Sea, a strategic waterway at the heart of geopolitical power struggles.
Cameron Hudson, an East Africa expert and former CIA analyst, explained to The Washington Post that unlike the previous war, which progressed slowly and remained distant from the capital, "this time, the war is accelerated and happening all across the country." According to him, the rebels achieved in a few weeks what took them two years in the previous round, creating a direct threat to Addis Ababa, which serves as an East African economic capital and home to thousands of foreign nationals.
International Implications and Humanitarian Crisis
The tensions are drawing in numerous players. The Ethiopian government, Africa's second most populous nation with some 139 million residents, also accuses Sudan and Egypt of supporting the armed groups. Conversely, Abiy Ahmed receives support from the United Arab Emirates, China, and Turkey.
"This time, the war is accelerated and happening all across the country. The rebels achieved in a few weeks what took them two years in the previous round."
Meanwhile, civilians are paying the price. The Tigray region, home to some 7 million residents, suffers from widespread internet disruptions, closed banks, and a sharp surge in food prices. Heimanot Ashenafi, a researcher at Amnesty International, warned that the international community is ignoring past atrocities, noting that survivors of the previous conflict are terrified of what is about to happen now.
