Yes. On September 25, 2026, internet and phone networks were disrupted across Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region amid the most serious escalation of fighting since the 2020–2022 war. NetBlocks confirmed an internet outage in the area, and Reuters reported that calls on state-owned Ethio telecom were not connecting while Safaricom service was limited.
Four people familiar with the matter told Reuters that the Tigray People’s Liberation Front ordered Ethio telecom and Safaricom to shut down networks—possibly to blunt federal drone advantage—though a source close to the TPLF denied responsibility and blamed the government. The blackout raised fears of a repeat of the 2020–2022 communications cutoff that left hundreds of thousands facing famine-like conditions.
Source: Al Jazeera (citing Reuters and NetBlocks)