As fighting intensifies across the Tigray region and neighboring areas, Ethio Telecom’s phone and internet services have completely shut down, plunging the region into a blackout.
The disruption began at 4:21 PM yesterday, according to sources. While state-owned Ethio Telecom services are entirely offline, Safaricom Ethiopia’s mobile services remain operational for the time being. Nevertheless, the blackout of Ethiopia’s primary network provider has triggered severe communication gaps, creating widespread distress among local residents, business owners, and families trying to reach loved ones.
Concerned citizens have publicly criticized the move as irresponsible, condemning it as an infringement on the public's fundamental right to communicate. Residents sharing the message "Salam Yirakbena" ("May peace meet us") on social media express deep anxiety that the sudden loss of connectivity completely severs the region from the rest of the country and the global community.
This telecommunications shutdown coincides with a sharp escalation in political and military tensions, following reports that Tigrayan forces have taken control of regional airports, leading to the total suspension of flights.
The situation mirrors the devastating two-year civil war, during which widespread phone and internet blockades were similarly imposed. With renewed hostilies breaking out, fears are mounting that the region is slipping back into a familiar cycle of conflict and complete informational isolation.
