The Tigray Regional Interim Administration (TIRA) has announced that vehicles transporting goods to Tigray via the Afar Region have been halted for unspecified reasons. The administration has urged the federal government to address the issue.

The TIRA Trade and Documentation Agency has formally requested an explanation from the Minister of Trade and Regional Integration, Dr. Kassahun Gofe, regarding the stoppage of goods-laden vehicles from reaching Tigray.

In a letter to the ministry, the agency stated: “According to multiple sources, trucks transporting various goods to Tigray via the Afar Region have been denied entry at the Serdo checkpoint since May 26, 2025.” The agency has called for clarity on the reason behind the blockade.

Heavy and light trucks carrying supplies from various parts of Ethiopia and Djibouti have reportedly been stranded at checkpoints in the Afar and Amhara regions. The regional government warned that the blockage has sparked significant concern among Tigray’s business community and the broad society.

A report from Tigray Television confirmed that Isuzu trucks and heavy trailers loaded with goods have been stopped at Serdo Meda, a checkpoint along the road from the Afar Region to Mekele. The report indicated that the movement of goods was still restricted at the time of publication, with no resolution provided.

Despite possessing legal documentation, truck operators have yet to receive an official reason for the ban. According to the television station, the TIRA Trade and Documentation Agency has reiterated its appeal for an explanation in a letter to the federal Ministry of Trade and Regional Cooperation.

However, no response has been issued by the federal government or the Afar Regional State concerning the blockade. “When we asked why we were being stopped, authorities responded that it was an order from above,” a source stated in the report.

The report further revealed that restrictions are in place not only on the Afar-Tigray route but also on the Amhara-Tigray corridor via Woldiya.