Capital of Eritrea, high-altitude hub in the Horn of Africa
The UK has intensified visa and travel restrictions on Eritrean officials after Eritrea refused to cooperate on returns. Eritreans remain the largest group among small-boat arrivals, while ministers threaten a full visa ban if co-operation does not resume.
Fighting in Tigray has intensified, with rebels seizing airports and clashing across Afar and Amhara. NetBlocks reports internet disruptions in northern Ethiopia as the government and allied forces push back, raising fears of a repeat of the 2020-2022 crisis that left hundreds of thousands hungry. The US has lifted some sanctions, while Eritrea’s role remains contested.
Fighting in northern Ethiopia has intensified as federal forces push into Tigray, while opposition groups allied with the TPLF strike Addis Ababa with reported drone activity. Civilians flee and aid access tightens amid regional tensions and accusations of external involvement.
Fights in northern Ethiopia have escalated, with Ethiopian forces clashing with rebel groups in Tigray, Amhara and Afar. Ethiopia has closed its embassy in Asmara and expelled 10 Eritrean diplomats, prompting Eritrea to sever ties. The move raises regional tensions and could widen instability across the Horn of Africa.
Federal and allied forces have retaken Mekelle after TPLF fighters withdrew; Ethiopian Airlines has resumed flights to Mekelle airport. Renewed fighting across Tigray has undermined the 2022 Pretoria peace deal and raised fears of a wider Horn of Africa conflict as Addis Ababa accuses Eritrea of involvement and neighbours call for restraint. (Sun 11 Oct 2026)
An ATR-42 military aircraft on a Benin–Lagos routine flight has crashed near Igbokoda, Ondo State. Authorities have activated search-and-rescue operations and declared three days of national mourning. Initial reports indicate 25 passengers and seven crew members were on board; casualty figures remain unconfirmed.
Ethiopia has claimed Eritrean troops crossed into Tigray, intensifying clashes as both sides accuse each other of aggression. Eritrea denies the incursion while urging UN action; meanwhile, regional powers watch for potential spillover as Red Sea access and border security become flashpoints.
Witnesses say Eritrean troops have crossed into Ethiopia’s Zalambessa, aiding rebels as fighting heightens along the northern border. Addis Ababa denies incursion and has urged UN action. The conflict has reignited a war that left hundreds of thousands dead in 2020-22, with regional powers and sea access at stake.
Ethiopia's federal government has moved to intensify operations in Tigray as Eritrean forces are reported to be active alongside allied groups. The conflict has returned to the fore, sparking fears of a regional war and severe humanitarian consequences for millions previously dependent on aid.