Ethiopia's Virgin Mary festival in Tigray cancelled over drone strike fears
Summary
A popular festival called Ashenda, which celebrates women and the Virgin Mary in northern Ethiopia's Tigray region, has been cancelled in Mekelle due to fears of drone attacks. Recent drone strikes have caused injuries and deaths, raising concerns about the possibility of the civil war in Tigray restarting.Key Facts
- The Ashenda festival is a three-day event celebrated by Orthodox Christians and is especially important for young women in Tigray.
- The main Ashenda gathering planned for Mekelle stadium was cancelled because of safety concerns over drone strikes.
- A recent drone attack in Mekelle injured 13 civilians and damaged homes.
- Other drone strikes in nearby districts between early and mid-August caused several deaths and injuries.
- The Tigray region is still recovering from a civil war that ended in 2022 with a peace deal between the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and Ethiopia’s federal government.
- Political tensions are rising again as the TPLF removed the interim peace administration and reinstated its pre-war council.
- Both sides accuse each other of not following the peace agreement.
- Regional officials called for international diplomatic action to stop the violence from escalating.
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