The situation on the ground
Addis Ababa is lowkey spiraling right now. Residents reported hearing loud explosions in the dead of night, specifically in the western suburbs near the military headquarters and in the southern Gotera neighborhood. The blasts were apparently strong enough to set off car alarms, which—no cap—is not the vibe you want at 12:30 a.m.
The context
The plot thickens because these explosions happened just hours after officials officially banned all drone flights over the city. Tensions have been high for a week now, following the outbreak of fighting in the north between the national army and an alliance of armed groups, including forces from the Tigray region.
An opposition source told Reuters that their side was responsible for the strikes. As of now, the government, including the office of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the defense ministry, has gone ghost and hasn’t responded to requests for comment. There’s still no official word on casualties or the extent of the damage.
Why it matters
Ethiopia is dealing with a major internal conflict, and the capital being targeted—even via drone—shows that the fighting is creeping into the center of power. When military infrastructure is getting hit and the government is silent, it’s a major L for regional stability.
