The Government of Ethiopia has issued a no-flight list and is preventing people on the list from traveling abroad. Names had been given to officials at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, beginning from last night, to search for specific individuals from the international passengers’ list and take them out.
Sources at the Airport have also confirmed to Addis Insight that few people were taken out of international flights by security officials yesterday night. However, the sources haven’t stated who these people are.
In addition, many flights have been delayed at the airport, and flights to Mekelle and Gonder, though, are still active, are being done under close scrutiny. The sources at the airport have described the scene at the airport as “chaotic.”
Last night, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (Ph.D.) appeared on state television and said that the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) was guilty of “treason.” He added that Tigray regional security forces had assaulted Ethiopian military bases in the towns of Mekelle and Dansha, killing and injuring soldiers based there.
An hour earlier, Abiy on his Facebook accused the regional government of Tigray was guilty of “crossing a red line” and that Ethiopian troops had been ordered to take action.
“I call on Ethiopians to remain calm, be on high alert, and back the military effort,” the post stated.
Reports coming from Tigray have been suppressed as all communication forms in the region have been shut down. However, few media outlets who were able to talk to residents in earlier hours have reported that massive fires were being heard in the outskirts of Mekelle,
Ethiopia’s Tigray region has banned flights from its airspace after Abiy ordered a military response against the region, it said on a statement broadcast on television.
The region also said that the Northern Command of the federal military, which is stationed in the region, had defected to its side. There was no immediate comment from the federal military on the claim.
