October 29, 2026 — The US Embassy in Addis Ababa issued a security alert on October 28. It says fighting in Tigray is continuing outside Mekelle and near the Eritrean border, and that flights to Axum and Shire are still suspended. The embassy repeated its warning not to travel to the Amhara, Tigray or Afar regions for any reason.
What the embassy says
- Tigray: fighting appears concentrated outside Mekelle and near the Eritrea border. The situation could change at any time.
- Moyale: fighting at Moyale, the main border crossing with Kenya, appears to have calmed, but the embassy is still monitoring it.
- Flights: remain suspended at Axum and Shire airports. Travelers should check with their airline. Restart date: TBA.
- Misinformation: some social media accounts are spreading false or misleading reports. The embassy advises checking several reliable sources.
- Advisory: US citizens are reminded to reconsider travel to Ethiopia as a whole and not to travel to Amhara (including Lalibela), Tigray or Afar, especially northern Afar. Anyone in those areas should leave if it is safe to do so.
What it means for airline travelers
- Skip the northern historic circuit for now. Lalibela, Axum and the Tigray rock churches are in the regions the embassy says not to visit, and Axum and Shire have no flights.
- Connecting through Addis Ababa is not covered by the do-not-travel warning, but leave room in your plans in case the situation changes.
- Avoid overland travel to Kenya via Moyale until the situation there is clearly stable.
- Don’t rely on flying standby to get out. If you are in Ethiopia, keep a confirmed exit option in mind should flights fill up.
- Check your insurance: many policies exclude areas under a government do-not-travel warning.
- Avoid military installations, follow several reliable local news sources, and enroll in STEP (US) or Registration of Canadians Abroad.
Sources
- US Embassy in Ethiopia — Security Alert: U.S. Embassy Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (October 28, 2026)
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