Ethiopian Airlines to Resume Flights to Tigray Region
Facts
- Ethiopian Airlines has announced that flights to the Tigray region will resume, as relations between the war-torn region and the Ethiopian federal government begin to normalize.
- Ethiopian leaders visited the region after signing a peace agreement in November to end the conflict in Tigray, which lasted for two years, as humanitarian aid and Ethiopian utilities return to the region in exchange for the disarmament of Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).
- Ethiopian Airlines has stated they are, "truly pleased with the resumption of our flights to Mekele," the regional capital. The first flight to the city was fully booked within hours of the announcement.
- Access to the national power grid was restored to the region of 6M on Dec. 6, while the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, the largest in the country, resumed financial operations in some parts of the region on Dec. 19.
- The peace agreement also mandates the withdrawal of foreign forces from Tigray, while Ethiopian-allied Eritrean forces are still reported to be present in the area. While Eritrea was not party to the peace agreement, their continued presence poses an obstacle to the ongoing peace process.
Sources: Al Jazeera, Reuters, DW, and Africa News.
Narratives
- Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Africa Times. The bloody conflict in Tigray is finally coming to an end, as both sides are showing a real commitment to a lasting peace in the region. While Eritrean forces remain a sticking point, each side has indicated that they will be upholding their ends of the bargain: Tigray will decommission their weapons, and Ethiopia will allow aid and utilities to return to the area. The return of Ethiopian Airlines is another good faith showing of trust in the peace process — there is now real promise of an end to this conflict.
- Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by news24. Ethiopia is trying to impose a "victor's peace" on the people of Tigray — their lackadaisical attitude towards foreign forces in the region are indicative of this, and only increase the risk of an outbreak of violence. Ethiopian Airlines has been accused of violating international law by providing logistical support to the Ethiopian military, and there is no chance of a fair and transparent peace process if Ethiopia does not properly address their misconduct during the war and peace process.