Blasts in Addis Ababa have been reported at three locations, hours after Ethiopia’s National Intelligence and Security Service banned drone flights in the capital and surrounding areas.
An intelligence service official, who was not authorised to speak publicly, confirmed the explosions but declined to give further details.
A diplomatic source said a blast was heard near the defence headquarters at about 7pm, followed by a siren. Residents in the area later reported hearing another explosion near a factory shortly after midnight.
It was not immediately clear whether the blasts were linked to an attack or formed part of training exercises at the defence headquarters.
Fighting continues in Tigray
The reports came as fighting continued in the northern Tigray region, where Ethiopia’s federal forces are battling regional forces. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front has taken control of several towns and recently seized the region’s main airport, prompting a suspension of flights.
The United Nations has called for the conflict to be de-escalated and urged dialogue between the government and seven opposition groups which have formed an alliance against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
People displaced by the 2020 war in Tigray said they could hear gunfire near the Hitsats camp in the north-west of the region. The camp is home to about 16,000 people who have lived there for six years and now fear being forced to flee again.
“We hear fighting supported by heavy artillery, and drones hover in the sky every day,” one resident told the Associated Press by telephone.
In the Tigrayan capital, Mekelle, residents said fighting had disrupted communications, banking and other essential services. Merchant Abdelaziz Ahmed said the shortage of cash was damaging his business.
“People cannot buy anything because they lack cash, so we cannot sell. My current stock won’t last more than a month. My only hope is that all these challenges pass and peace is restored in Tigray,” he said.
A taxi driver, who withheld his name because of fears for his safety, said fuel prices had doubled on the black market. “The war has made life extremely difficult. We don’t even have money for food or rent,” he said.
