Ethiopia’s Capital Echoes: Explosions Follow Drone Ban

Thu Oct 01 2026 13:56:59 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Afternoon blasts shook Addis Ababa after a drone ban, amid unrest linked to northern conflict.

Explosions were heard overnight in Addis Ababa, with reports of blasts near the military headquarters and in the southern city. The incidents followed a recent ban on drone flights over the capital and came a week after fighting erupted between the Ethiopian army and a new coalition of armed groups from the Tigray region. Residents in the Gotera and Torhayloch neighbourhoods described the blasts as loud enough to trigger car alarms, though no casualties have been reported. Ethiopian officials have yet to confirm the cause, and ministry offices urged the public to stay calm amid heightened security alerts.

Explosions heard in Ethiopia's capital after drone flights banned

Explosions were heard overnight in Ethiopia's capital, some in the area of the military headquarters in the west and another in the south of the city, residents and diplomatic sources say.

The blasts came hours after drone flights were banned over Addis Ababa and a week after fighting erupted in the north between the army and a newly launched alliance of armed groups including forces from the Tigray region.

A source linked to the opposition fighters told Reuters they were behind what they said were drone strikes.

'It was very loud. It was strong enough to set off car alarms,' a resident in a southern area of the city, near the base of the secret service, told BBC Amharic.

The resident estimated he heard the explosion in the Gotera neighbourhood around 00:30 local time (21:30 GMT).

Another resident reported that he and his friends were playing games when they heard an explosion in the western suburb of Torhayloch, close to the military headquarters.

No official reports confirm the cause, the exact locations affected, or whether there were any casualties or damage.

The office of Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the defence ministry, as well as the federal and Addis Ababa police have not responded to BBC requests for comment.