- Electricity was restored in Mekelle town, the capital of Tigray last week after a 22-month-long blackout. The power connection was snapped in February 2021.
The almost two-year-old war has left the Tigray region devastated. It is slowly limping back to normal life. Electricity was restored in Mekelle town, the capital of Tigray last week after a 22-month-long blackout. The power connection was snapped in February 2021, after the 230 KV high power transmission line from Alamata to Mekoni, 126 km from Mekelle, was damaged during the armed conflicts. The peace deal between the two warring sides came into effect only last month.
Businesses in the region also closed down after conflicts started in November 2020 and people fled the town. Government-owned telecommunications company Ethio Telecom has resumed services in Shire town, 136 km from Mekelle enabling the Ethiopian diaspora to reach out to their families. With the restoration of electricity and telecommunication, it is hoped that the businesses will also revive.
However, the internet facility in the entire Tigray region is still not restored with no clear indications on when it will happen. Ethiopia is often criticised for censoring the internet.
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The Tigrayan authorities have alleged that the government, not only disrupted power but also paralyzed the banking and communication services in areas under their administration. According to UN estimates more than 2.1 million civilians were displaced due to the war.
