ETHIOPIA — On September 25, the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa said it was aware of reports of active fighting near Lalibela in the Amhara Region, a halt of Ethiopian Airlines flights to and from Lalibela airport on September 24, and a halt of internet and phone service in the Tigray Region.
The embassy told U.S. citizens not to travel to the Amhara Region, including Lalibela, the Tigray Region, or the Afar Region for any reason.
Citizens already in those areas were told to leave if it is safe to do so or to shelter in place until conditions improve, to monitor local media, and to stay in contact with the airline. The embassy said internet and phone service could be interrupted at any time.
On September 23 the same embassy said Tigray Defense Forces had taken control of the airports in Mekelle, Axum, and Shire, and that Ethiopian Airlines had halted flights to those three airports. U.S. government personnel are not permitted to travel to Tigray or Afar.
The Department of State travel advisory for Ethiopia remains Level 3, Reconsider Travel, with Level 4, Do Not Travel, on Tigray and Amhara.
The August 27 embassy republication of that advisory lists specific areas within Afar as Do Not Travel. The September 23 and September 25 embassy alerts separately told U.S. citizens not to travel to Afar for any reason.
