Fighting between Ethiopian government forces and rebel groups has intensified on multiple fronts, days after the Tigray People's Liberation Front declared it was in a "full-blown" war with federal forces. The Tigrayan rebels say they have joined a coalition with six other armed groups nationwide. Fighting in Ethiopia has intensified on multiple fronts since the Tigray People's Liberation Front declared it was in a "full-blown" war with federal government forces earlier this week. Correspondents in Addis Ababa say the fighting has spread beyond the Tigray region itself, while telecoms disruptions are limiting information coming out of the area. The Tigrayan rebel group said it has formed a coalition with six other armed groups across the country, with the stated goal of overthrowing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. As of Friday, another armed group was reported to have joined the alliance, signaling the conflict's geographic scope is widening. Analysts note that lasting stability has still not taken hold in Tigray since the civil war there ended in 2022. The UN and humanitarian organizations have voiced concern over the impact of the escalating fighting on the civilian population. Read next Western Sahara: US backs Morocco, says the status quo cannot last The United States backed Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara and said the 50-year status quo cannot be maintained, five weeks before the UN decides its mission's future there. The statement marks a firmer US position on the long-running dispute.

Nigeria faces world's highest heat death toll as El Nino bears down on Sahel Extreme heat generated by this year's El Niño is projected to cause up to 67,000 additional deaths across the Sahel over the next six months, with Nigeria facing the highest death toll of any country in the world. Tigray rebels claim "full-blown war" with Ethiopia's federal government The Tigray People's Liberation Front says it is in a "full-blown war" with Ethiopia's federal government after seizing key airports and launching attacks into the neighboring Amhara and Afar regions. The escalation follows the TPLF joining six other armed groups in a new alliance against the government.

Sudan's warring sides each expect victory, Trump's Africa envoy says Trump's Africa envoy Massad Boulos said both warring sides in Sudan believe they could still achieve a decisive military victory, a sign the conflict remains far from resolution. He made the remarks in an interview on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Internet restricted in Ethiopia's Tigray region as fighting resumes Internet access has been restricted in Ethiopia's Tigray region as fighting between federal forces and regional rebel groups flares up again. The region was completely cut off from the outside world during the two-year civil war.