Clashes between Ethiopian federal government troops and Tigrayan forces have erupted in the country’s northern Tigray, a region still devastated and impoverished from a full-blown war and more recent huge cuts in international aid. The fighting has triggered the suspension of flights, security and diplomatic sources told the AFP news agency on Thursday. Hostilities broke out in recent days in Tsemlet, western Tigray, an area claimed by forces from the neighbouring Amhara region, the sources told AFP. But the USAID cuts mean there is less humanitarian funding available overall, and what remains is often directed towards hotspots and global conflict zones that are considered worse emergencies. In Tigray, “donor funding cuts have placed additional strain on an already fragile public health system,” Joshua Eckley, head of mission at Doctors without Borders for Ethiopia, told Al Jazeera on January 22, before the eruption of clashes.

Source: Ethiopian News January 29, 2026 10:03 UTC