Residents reported overnight explosions in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, hours after authorities announced a ban on drone use. Accounts placed the sounds in different districts, including near military and intelligence facilities. The origin remained unconfirmed, and claims of a drone attack were not independently verified. The incident comes amid renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia and opposition efforts to form an alliance.
Explosions were heard overnight in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, after the government announced a drone-use ban. Residents described sounds from different parts of the city. The origin remained unclear, and the allegation that drones carried out an attack was not independently verified. Authorities had not issued a finding on responsibility, damage or casualties when the accounts appeared.[1], [2]
Residents in Gotera and Torhayloch, districts of Addis Ababa, described the overnight sounds. Diplomatic sources and residents placed some near a military headquarters in the west and an intelligence facility in the south. Those accounts located the sounds without establishing which buildings were affected. Questions to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office, defence authorities and federal or city police had received no response at publication.[1]
The government announced the drone ban hours before the blasts. Authorities had not identified a connection between that restriction and the incident. Ethiopia was also experiencing renewed fighting in the north and discussion of a new opposition alliance involving the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, a political and armed movement rooted in the northern Tigray region. No direct link between the capital’s blasts and that fighting was established.[1]
