Ethiopian government has declared a six-month state of emergency in the country’s northern state, Tigray region, following escalation of tensions on Wednesday.
In a statement, the Ethiopian cabinet said the emergency is meant to “maintain the country’s peace, the safety and security of its citizens and to prevent acts that may lead the country to further unrest and instability”.
It said the situation in Tigray state can no longer be “controlled through the regular law enforcement mechanism. The army has been deployed to the region.
Telephone, internet, and banking services were down on Wednesday.
Residents also say they heard bursts of gunfire early on Wednesday morning on the outskirts of the regional capital, Mekelle.