Ethiopian Orthodox Christians packed into Addis Ababa’s Meskel Square in white robes to sing hymns and light the massive Demera bonfire, celebrating the annual Meskel festival against a backdrop of growing dread over a renewed war in the north.

While the capital remained calm and secure during the centuries-old holiday, news of fresh clashes between federal troops and Tigrayan forces cast a heavy shadow over the prayers for peace.

For families in the northern regions still trying to rebuild after the devastating two-year war that ended in 2022, the sudden surge in fighting has triggered panic buying and long queues for basic supplies.

With internet and phone lines cut across large parts of the north, loved ones in the capital have been left completely in the dark, desperate for news as fears grow that the region is sliding straight back into full-blown conflict.

–ChannelAfrica–