Explosions heard overnight in Addis Ababa; opposition alliance claims drone strikes

Right · 2Explosions were heard overnight in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, according to three diplomatic sources who spoke to Reuters. 1 2 Centre · 1The BBC, citing residents and diplomatic sources, reported blasts near the military headquarters in the west and another in the south of the city. 3 Centre · 1A resident in the south told BBC Amharic the blast was loud enough to set off car alarms, and put it around 00:30 local time; another resident in the western suburb of Torhayloch, close to the military headquarters, also reported hearing an explosion. 3

Left · 1AFP's sources, carried by The Hindu, placed an explosion at the Ethiopian National Defence Force headquarters in the Tor Hayloch area between midnight and 1:00 a.m. and could not say what caused it, who was responsible or whether there were casualties; a bar worker told AFP it was powerful and caused panic nearby. 4 Mixed · 2A source linked to the opposition alliance fighting federal forces in the north told Reuters it had carried out several drone strikes in the city, some aimed at the military headquarters. 2 3 Right · 1Reuters could not independently verify the claim; witnesses told it there was no visible damage near the military base, and if confirmed it would be the first known drone attack by anti-government forces on the capital, which is hundreds of kilometres from the front lines. 2

Mixed · 3The BBC noted there were no official reports confirming the cause, locations, casualties or damage, and that the office of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the defence ministry and the federal and Addis Ababa police had not responded to its requests for comment; Reuters said spokespeople for the prime minister's office, the federal government, the army and the TPLF had not responded, and AFP said the prime minister's office and army spokesperson had not. 3 2 4 Mixed · 2On Wednesday the national intelligence service banned all drone flights over Addis Ababa and its surroundings indefinitely, and the blasts came hours later. 4 3 Mixed · 2Heavy fighting between federal forces and the TPLF began on September 23, the biggest escalation of violence in Ethiopia since the 2020-2022 civil war ended; the alliance has been fighting federal forces since then, and the TPLF has formed it with six other armed groups aiming to overthrow Abiy's government. 4 2

Right · 1Opposition forces had not previously been known to use armed drones, but Reuters says there is growing evidence it may have some drone capability; on Tuesday the pro-government Tigray Peace Forces militia said it had captured drone frames and batteries from forces linked to the TPLF, which Reuters could not verify. 2 Left · 1ACLED said drones suspected to be linked to the alliance targeted army and civilian airports in Oromia and Amhara on Sunday. 4 Right · 1Edward Bach of Verisk Maplecroft said an opposition ability to strike Addis Ababa would be "a political game-changer" and would narrow federal forces' aerial advantage. 2

Left · 1Al Jazeera frames the blasts within a widening conflict, reporting thousands fleeing Mekelle amid advancing troops and disrupted services; it describes the alliance as uniting seven armed groups, including the TPLF and groups from Amhara, Afar, Somali and Benishangul-Gumuz, says it wants to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government, and reports government forces advancing in Tigray to within about 40 km (25 miles) of Mekelle, electricity and internet cut, and fighting in Afar where authorities renewed accusations of an Eritrean incursion. 5 Mixed · 2Government forces told Reuters they had retaken Erebti and Abaala, which is unconfirmed; separately, pro-government forces said they had captured Maychew, about 75 km south of Mekelle, with the army, which Reuters could not verify, while AFP's humanitarian source said the TPLF had been dislodged from Erebti and tens of thousands have fled their homes in Afar. 2 4 Right · 1The federal government accuses Sudan, Egypt and Eritrea of supporting the alliance, and Afar's chief administrator said Eritrean soldiers had crossed into Afar; the TPLF calls its offensive a "defensive war" against federal drone and artillery strikes, and the neighbouring states deny backing the coalition. 2

Left · 1Abiy is due to be sworn in for a new term on Monday, October 5, after winning June elections, and media are prevented from travelling to affected areas amid communications disruptions, making verification difficult. 4