At least 52 civilians have been killed in three days of heavy fighting around Alamata in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region, according to hospital sources cited by the BBC, as renewed clashes raise fears of a wider conflict.
Federal troops appear to have taken control of Alamata from Tigrayan forces and may be preparing to advance north towards Mekelle, Tigray’s regional capital. Videos circulating on social media showed tanks and armoured vehicles moving through the town.
The latest fighting erupted last week after months of mounting tensions between Ethiopia’s federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, which controls the regional administration. Both sides have accused each other of violating the 2022 Pretoria agreement that ended a devastating two-year war.
A doctor at Alamata General Hospital told the BBC that fighting between Saturday and Monday involved heavy artillery and explosives, some of which struck residential areas.
The dead included children, mothers and livestock herders, while 12 people were reportedly killed in a single strike on the town’s marketplace.
Médecins Sans Frontières said more than 700 wounded people had been admitted to hospitals it supports across Tigray in recent days.
The fighting has also spread beyond Tigray. In neighbouring Amhara, clashes near the historic town of Lalibela have left dozens of foreign tourists stranded after commercial flights were suspended.
A British tourist told the BBC that gunfire and artillery had been heard around the area for several days and that a heavy military presence remained in the town.
Fourteen Israeli tourists were evacuated by military helicopter on Monday, while several others left earlier with an aid convoy. Around 33 foreign visitors were still stranded.
The fighting around Lalibela has involved federal troops and an Amhara militia aligned with Tigrayan forces. Earlier in September, several Ethiopian armed groups announced a seven-member alliance that said it aimed to remove the government in Addis Ababa.
Tigrayan forces have also been fighting in the neighbouring Afar region, including near strategically important routes linking landlocked Ethiopia to Djibouti’s ports.
The federal government has accused Eritrea of backing armed groups fighting Addis Ababa, an allegation Asmara denies, adding to concerns that the conflict could draw in neighbouring states.
Both sides have blamed each other for triggering the latest round of hostilities. The TPLF says it was responding to a federal offensive that included drone attacks, while the government says Tigrayan forces initiated the fighting after seizing regional airports.
Communications restrictions have made independent verification difficult. Internet access has been cut across much of Tigray, while banking services in the region have also been suspended.
Residents have described growing shortages of cash, electricity and basic services as civilians flee surrounding areas into Alamata.
One local source told the BBC that displaced families had walked for hours to reach the town, only to find phone networks, banking services and power unavailable.
The banking restrictions have also affected Tigrayans living outside the region, with some customers reporting that accounts opened in Tigray had been frozen or restricted.
The renewed fighting is the most serious escalation in northern Ethiopia since the 2022 peace agreement and has revived fears of a return to large-scale war.
