Telecom services in the Tigray region of Ethiopia have been restored following the conflict that took place in the region in 2020 and 2021. 27 cities, including Mekele, have regained access to telecom services, thanks to the repair of 981 km of fiber optic cables by Ethio Telecom.
The CEO of Ethio Telecom also reported that telephone service, which had been disrupted due to the conflict, was able to make a successful call to Mekele. In addition to the restoration of telecom service, 61 bank branches have also resumed operation following the restart of telecom service. While the restoration of these services is a positive development, it will likely take some time for the region to fully recover from the conflict
Background
The Tigray War, also known as the Ethiopian Civil War, was a conflict in the Tigray region of Ethiopia that began in November 2020 and continued through much of 2021. It was fought between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), a regional political party that controlled the Tigray region, and the federal government of Ethiopia, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The conflict was sparked by a number of factors, including the TPLF’s refusal to accept the results of the 2020 Ethiopian general election, which saw the TPLF lose power at the national level, and tensions between the TPLF and the federal government over the distribution of resources and political power. The conflict quickly escalated, with both sides accusing the other of human rights abuses and war crimes.
The conflict had a significant impact on the people of Tigray and the surrounding region. Thousands of people were killed and more than 2 million were displaced. Infrastructure, including telecommunications networks, was severely damaged, and access to food, water, and other basic necessities was disrupted.
