Explosions Reported in Ethiopia Capital as Tigray Fighting Fuels Security Fears

Explosions were heard overnight in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, including areas near the military headquarters in the west and a security facility in the south, residents and diplomatic sources have told the BBC.
The blasts came hours after Ethiopia’s National Intelligence and Security Service imposed an indefinite ban on drone flights over Addis Ababa and surrounding areas. The restrictions followed renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia between government forces and a newly formed alliance of armed groups.
A source linked to opposition fighters told Reuters that the group was responsible for what it described as drone strikes in the capital. The claim has not been independently verified, while Ethiopian authorities have not confirmed the cause of the explosions.
One resident in the southern part of Addis Ababa told BBC Amharic that the blast was powerful enough to trigger car alarms. Another resident in the western suburb of Torhayloch, near the military headquarters, also reported hearing an explosion while spending time with friends.
There were no official reports confirming the locations of the explosions, the extent of any damage or whether anyone was injured or killed. Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office, the defence ministry, federal police and Addis Ababa police had not responded to requests for comment at the time of reporting.
The developments come amid renewed fighting in the north involving the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and other armed groups. Seven movements, including the TPLF and Amhara militia Fano, formed an alliance last month with the stated goal of removing the government in Addis Ababa.
The latest clashes have raised fears of a return to the large-scale conflict that devastated Tigray between 2020 and 2022. Both the Ethiopian government and TPLF have accused each other of violating the peace agreement that ended that war, while the circumstances that triggered the latest fighting remain disputed.
Ethiopia has also accused neighbouring Eritrea of supporting the armed groups, a claim Eritrea has rejected. On Wednesday, Ethiopia announced that it was closing its embassy in Eritrea and expelling 10 Eritrean diplomats, accusing them of involvement in activities that posed a direct threat to national security. Meanwhile, authorities have maintained the drone restrictions in Addis Ababa, citing the need to protect national leaders, critical infrastructure and major public events.