Heavy fighting and near-total telecoms blackout in Tigray raises operational risk for Ethiopia (25 Sep 2026)
On 25 September 2026 heavy fighting erupted across Tigray and neighbouring zones while phone networks and the internet experienced a near-total disruption; witnesses and reporting say state-owned Ethio Telecom services were cut and local airports were seized, prompting flight suspensions and civilian displacement.
The desk brief
On 25 September 2026 heavy fighting erupted across Tigray and neighbouring zones while phone networks and the internet experienced a near-total disruption; witnesses and reporting say state-owned Ethio Telecom services were cut and local airports were seized, prompting flight suspensions and civilian displacement.
Communications blackouts and seizure of local airports increase operational opacity for payments, information flow and logistics in northern Ethiopia. Conditionally, this can raise sovereign risk premia and funding needs by complicating debt-service operations, investor due diligence and trade flows through Djibouti, though market pricing impacts are not documented in the cited sources.
Monitor restoration of telecom services, UN/AU mediation steps, or official announcements on Djibouti corridor access.
Sources & verification
Developing storyFurther independent confirmation is required.
- Heavy fighting, telecoms disruption as Ethiopia conflict ragesfrance24.comSource published (opens in a new tab)
- Internet, mobile networks shut down in Tigray since yesterday - Ethiopia Observerethiopiaobserver.comSource published (opens in a new tab)
Public references supporting this brief.