TRAVEL BAN IMPOSED ON FOREIGNERS ENTERING TIGRAY AMID HEIGHTENED REGIONAL TENSIONS
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By Yohannes Mekonnen, Senior Political Correspondent
Ethiopian Tribune | May 14, 2025
ADDIS ABABA — The federal government has imposed a ban on foreign nationals traveling to Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region, regional officials confirmed yesterday, signaling a potential deterioration in relations between Addis Ababa and Mekelle.
The restriction comes as the war-torn region had begun seeing modest revival in tourism, particularly to historical and religious sites such as the ancient city of Aksum, considered one of Ethiopia’s most significant cultural treasures.
“I can confirm that foreigners are now prohibited from traveling to Tigray, though we have not been officially informed about the reasoning behind this decision,” said a senior advisor to regional President Debretsion Gebremichael, speaking to our correspondent in Mekelle.
The sudden directive has raised concerns among regional officials working to rebuild the local economy. Tourism, although still recovering, had been providing crucial income for communities devastated by the 2020-2022 civil conflict.
“These measures present a significant obstacle to the peace and stability we are striving to achieve,” stated the Tigray Culture and Tourism Bureau in a written response to inquiries from the Ethiopian Tribune. “The region’s recovery depends on openness and the resumption of normal activities, including tourism.”
Ethiopian Airlines, the national carrier and sole operator of flights between Addis Ababa and Mekelle, has neither confirmed nor denied the ban. Representatives from the airline declined to comment when contacted by this publication.
Reports from Bole International Airport indicate that foreign passengers attempting to board flights to Tigray or neighboring Afar region have been systematically turned away since Monday. Sources familiar with the situation, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, suggest the directive originated from Ethiopia’s National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS).
The agency is currently headed by a former close advisor to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, leading to speculation about high-level involvement in the decision.
FRAGILE PEACE
This development occurs against a backdrop of unresolved political tensions within Tigray. Regional authorities have recently expressed frustration over what they describe as delayed implementation of key provisions in the 2022 peace agreement that ended the devastating two-year conflict.
That war, which pitted Ethiopian federal forces, Eritrean troops, and allied regional militias against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), resulted in approximately 600,000 deaths according to African Union estimates, and left millions displaced.
Despite the official cessation of hostilities, Tigray continues to face significant humanitarian challenges. Many areas remain without essential services, and the disarmament process outlined in the peace accord has proceeded unevenly.
Dr. Mesfin Araya, conflict analyst at Addis Ababa University, views the travel ban as potentially troubling. “Such restrictions typically indicate growing mistrust between federal and regional authorities. This could represent a significant setback to reconciliation efforts,” he told the Ethiopian Tribune.
Federal authorities have maintained silence on the issue, with neither the Prime Minister’s Office nor the Ministry of Peace issuing formal statements explaining the rationale behind the restriction.
The travel ban raises serious questions about the state of Ethiopia’s fragile peace process and suggests that despite public pronouncements of progress, fundamental issues remain unresolved between Addis Ababa and Mekelle.
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