These include Tigray, Amhara, Gambella and Benishangul Gumuz, as well as specific areas of Afar, Oromia, Central Ethiopia, South Ethiopia, Southwest Ethiopia and Somalia. The warning also covers Ethiopia’s borders with Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan, Kenya and Eritrea.
The department said the security situation outside Addis Ababa can deteriorate suddenly, while internet, cellular and telephone services are often restricted or shut down before, during and after periods of unrest.
It also warned of limited medical services, kidnapping and terrorism riskslandmines, violent crime and potential exit bans. U.S. government employees require special authorization to travel to most locations outside Addis Ababa, while consular access to detained Americans can be limited.
Ethiopia’s renewed war is drawing Eritrea back into Tigray
The travel warning comes as Ethiopia is experiencing its most serious escalation in northern fighting since the 2020–2022 Tigray war.
Fighting between federal forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) intensified from September 23 and spread across Tigray, Amhara and Afar. Federal forces have since retaken Mekelle, but airstrikes and artillery fire have continuedraising fears of a wider conflict.
The crisis has also brought Eritrea back into the centre of Ethiopia’s conflict.
Reuters reported on October 7 that witnesses had seen dozens of Eritrean soldiers in Adigrat, a town in Tigray about 25 kilometres from the Eritrean border. Reuters could not independently verify the reports, while Eritrea accused Ethiopia of creating a justification for further war.
Eritrea and Ethiopia have also severed diplomatic ties. Addis Ababa accused Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting an armed opposition alliance led by the TPLF, allegations the three countries have denied. Eritrea formally cut diplomatic relations with Ethiopia on October 1.
At the heart of the growing tension is Ethiopia’s demand for access to the Red Sea.
Ethiopia has been landlocked since Eritrea became independent in 1993, forcing it to rely heavily on neighbouring Djibouti for maritime trade.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has repeatedly said reliable sea access is vital to Ethiopia’s economic development, while Eritrea fears that Ethiopia could eventually seek access to its Red Sea coastline, including the strategic port of Assab, by force.
Abiy has said Ethiopia wants sea access through peaceful negotiations, but the issue has become increasingly intertwined with the renewed Tigray conflict and wider rivalry involving Eritrea, Egypt and Sudan.
Source: africa.businessinsider.com
