Internet restricted after fighting breaks out in Ethiopia's Tigray region

Internet and mobile phone services have been abruptly halted in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region following fresh clashes between regional forces and the national army. The shutdown, reported by the monitoring group NetBlocks, marks the latest escalation in a fragile security environment that has already left many residents struggling to meet basic needs.

What triggered the latest shutdown?

Fighting erupted this week in the capital city of Mekelle, pitting Tigrayan forces and their allies against federal troops. The clash broke out on Wednesday, prompting a rapid escalation of tension and reports of panic buying across the region. According to Duke Burbridge, an American humanitarian worker based in Mekelle, “last night telecommunications got knocked out,” confirming that the disruption was a direct consequence of the renewed hostilities.

State‑owned operator Ethio Telecom saw its network completely cut, while the smaller private firm Safaricom managed to keep its services running. This split in connectivity reflects the fragmented nature of Ethiopia’s telecom landscape, where the majority of users rely on Ethio Telecom for both voice and data services.

Impact on daily life and humanitarian aid

For ordinary residents, the loss of internet and call services is more than an inconvenience; it is a lifeline that has been severed at a critical moment. Burbridge highlighted a chronic scarcity of cash that has persisted for eight months, with ATMs out of reach for many. In a region where banking and mobile‑money applications are the primary means of conducting transactions, the shutdown threatens to deepen an already precarious economic situation.

Humanitarian agencies, which depend on reliable communications to coordinate aid deliveries, now face heightened challenges. The inability to contact field staff, verify locations, or receive real‑time updates could delay essential supplies of food, medicine, and cash assistance, compounding the hardship that followed the two‑year civil war that ended in 2022.

A reminder of the 2022 shutdown

During the two‑year civil war that concluded in 2022, Tigray was completely isolated from the outside world. The blockade cut off not only communications but also the flow of humanitarian aid, leaving hundreds of thousands of people in famine‑like conditions. Limited access to cash, food and medicine forced families to survive on dwindling resources, a trauma that still echoes in the region’s collective memory.

The current sub‑national internet shutdown, while not as total as the earlier blockade, revives those painful memories. It underscores how quickly connectivity can be weaponised in conflict, turning digital silence into a tool of control and intimidation.

Why Safaricom remains operational

Safaricom, a much smaller private operator, has managed to keep its network alive despite the broader disruption. While the source material does not explain the technical reasons, the fact that its services continue suggests a degree of resilience or perhaps a different regulatory status compared to the state‑run Ethio Telecom. For many Tigrayans, Safaricom now represents a fragile but vital conduit for staying in touch with relatives, accessing mobile‑money platforms, and receiving news from beyond the frontlines.

Nevertheless, the reliance on a single private network also raises concerns about equity and accessibility. Users without Safaricom subscriptions or devices compatible with its network may find themselves completely cut off, deepening the digital divide that already characterises Ethiopia’s telecom sector.

Economic ramifications of the shutdown

The abrupt loss of connectivity hits the informal economy hardest. In Tigray, as elsewhere in Ethiopia, mobile‑money services have become the backbone of daily commerce, enabling small traders, farmers, and street vendors to receive payments and purchase goods without cash. With Ethio Telecom offline, those who depend on its network for mobile‑money transactions face immediate barriers to trade.

Moreover, the scarcity of cash already reported by Burbridge suggests that many households are already operating on limited liquid assets. The shutdown could exacerbate shortages, forcing people to rely on barter or to travel farther for cash, increasing both costs and risks in an already volatile security environment.

Humanitarian response and calls for comment

The BBC has reached out to Ethiopian authorities for comment on the shutdown, but no official response has yet been recorded. Humanitarian actors on the ground are likely to appeal for the restoration of communications, emphasizing that the ability to coordinate aid delivery and to inform affected populations is a matter of life and death.

International observers and civil‑society groups have previously warned that communication blackouts can conceal violations of human rights and impede accountability. In the context of renewed fighting, the shutdown may also hinder the documentation of civilian harm, making it harder for the global community to assess the conflict’s impact on vulnerable populations.

Looking ahead: prospects for stability

The latest clash and the ensuing communications blackout signal a worrying escalation in a region still healing from a devastating war. While the fighting appears to be localized around Mekelle, the ripple effects on trade, humanitarian aid, and everyday life are already being felt across Tigray. Restoring Ethio Telecom’s network will be essential for any de‑escalation effort, as connectivity is a prerequisite for dialogue, coordination, and rebuilding.

For the people of Tigray, the hope remains that this interruption will be brief and that the region can move beyond the shadows of past blockades toward a more stable and connected future. Until then, the silence on the wires will continue to echo the deeper uncertainties that still grip Ethiopia’s northern frontier.

This article was produced with AI-assisted research and editorial support. Reporting is based on the source material cited below. Sources: BBC News Africa; bbc.co.uk; Global1.News (25 September 2026).

By Amara Diop, Staff Writer