Passenger flights between Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, and cities in the northern Tigray region have been cancelled amid fears of new fighting. Ethiopian Airlines, which runs all domestic routes, told passengers through a text message that cancellations were due to "unplanned circumstances." Neither the airline nor the government has offered further details. A BBC reporter in Tigray's main city, Mekelle, confirmed that airport staff were told not to come to work. Reports say clashes happened in Mai Degusha, a disputed area in western Tigray's Tselemti district. During the last civil war, forces from the nearby Amhara region occupied this fertile land. The government wants to resolve ownership with a referendum, but with around one million displaced people living in camps, it is unclear if they will be able to vote. New military movements have also been seen in southern Tigray, causing more worry about renewed violence. Although flights have stopped, buses still run between Addis Ababa and Tigray, but may face interruptions. The 2022 peace deal known as the Pretoria Agreement, brokered by the African Union, created an interim government in Tigray. However, tensions remain, especially as the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) lost its licence to contest June’s elections. The TPLF, once a dominant political party, has split into factions, adding to the instability. An AU envoy has estimated that 600,000 people died during the Tigray war, which saw atrocities like mass killings and sexual violence committed by all sides. The situation remains fragile as Ethiopia approaches national polls.