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Explosions were heard in multiple locations across Addis Ababa overnight into October 1, diplomatic sources told Reuters, heightening concerns that conflict from northern Ethiopia could spread to the capital hundreds of kilometres away. A source connected to the opposition alliance fighting federal forces claimed responsibility for several drone strikes, including one targeting the Ethiopian National Defence Force headquarters, although Reuters could not independently verify the assertion and witnesses saw no visible damage at the site. Spokespeople for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office, the federal government and the military did not respond to requests for comment on the blasts or the claims. The incidents came shortly after the National Intelligence and Security Service announced an indefinite ban on all drone flights over the capital and its environs, citing security needs under a 2022 proclamation that authorises measures to protect leaders, infrastructure and major events.
The intelligence service issued the notice on September 30, halting issuance of permits for any type of unmanned aerial vehicle or similar device while stating it would monitor airspace with integrated anti-drone technology. Unauthorised drones would be intercepted and forced down, with operators traced and subjected to legal action, the agency said in the public notice reported by Addis Insight. The move followed earlier requirements for professional operators to submit details on flight purpose, location and equipment before receiving approval, a process now suspended indefinitely in coordination with other security bodies.
Clashes in the northern regions of Tigray, Amhara and Afar last week represent the largest escalation of violence in Ethiopia since the end of the 2020-2022 civil war that concluded with the Pretoria peace agreement, according to Reuters reporting. Opposition forces associated with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front seized control of several airports in Tigray, leading to suspension of commercial flights and reports of communication disruptions across the area. The African Union Commission has expressed concern over the developments, calling for an immediate end to hostilities and a return to dialogue under the existing peace framework.
Opposition alliance members had not previously been known to deploy armed drones in the conflict, yet growing evidence suggests they may possess such capabilities, a Reuters assessment found. A pro-government militia in Tigray reported capturing drone frames and batteries from forces linked to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front on Tuesday, providing one indication of that capacity. If confirmed, the claimed strikes on Addis Ababa would mark the first known use of armed drones by anti-government groups against the capital.
Tens of thousands of civilians have been displaced by the recent northern fighting, compounding challenges in a region still recovering from the previous war’s widespread destruction and humanitarian crisis, diplomatic and local sources indicated. Residents in affected areas have rushed to stockpile food and withdraw cash amid fears of broader instability, while internet and phone networks faced repeated disruptions. The renewed clashes risk further unsettling the Horn of Africa, where overlapping conflicts in Sudan and tensions involving Eritrea already strain regional security.
The National Intelligence and Security Service did not explicitly link its drone ban to the northern conflict in its announcement, framing the restrictions instead as a general precaution against emerging threats. Enforcement will involve trained personnel and advanced equipment working with partner agencies, the service stated. No casualties or structural damage from the Addis Ababa explosions have been publicly confirmed by authorities as investigations continue.
