The resumption of flights follows a ceasefire between the Ethiopian government and rebel forcesAddis Ababa (AFP) – Families embraced and wept in emotional reunions Wednesday after the first commercial flight in 18 months between Ethiopia's capital city and the war-torn Tigray region to the north. Ethiopian Airlines, the biggest carrier in Africa, announced this week it would lift its suspension on flights to Tigray with the first charter to the region since June 2021. Getachew Reda, a spokesman for Tigray's regional government, said on Twitter that an Ethiopian Airlines passenger jet had landed at Mekele's airport. The peace deal was to pave the way for the resumption of critical services in return for the disarmament of rebel fighters in Tigray. Ethiopian Airlines is the biggest carrier in Africa © Mohammed HUWAIS / AFP/FilePro-government forces -- namely troops from neighbouring Eritrea, and militias from the Ethiopian region of Amhara -- remain in Tigray, despite the peace deal requiring the withdrawal of outside fighters.

Source: Ethiopian News December 29, 2022 03:06 UTC