The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) revised the conflict and violence section of its Ethiopia travel advice on 7 October. The passage on reported attacks now reads: "There have been reports of attacks, including possible drone attacks, on military installations in several locations across Ethiopia, including Addis Ababa. Further attacks are possible."
What changed
The FCDO's change note for 7 October says "Updated information about conflict and violence". When we reported on this passage on 2 October, it referred to attacks "in several locations across Ethiopia" and did not name any location. The capital is now named. The revised section also says: "Do not approach debris resulting from military activity, or touch unusual objects." The FCDO still gives no dates or details of individual incidents, and we have not found a primary source for a specific attack in Addis Ababa.
What the FCDO says
The same section says: "Stay away from military sites and installations, and follow the advice of local authorities." On the north, it says: "The security situation in northern Ethiopia may deteriorate quickly." It reports renewed clashes in parts of Afar and Tigray, "including reports of drone strikes which have increased in frequency since August 2026".
The advice also says: "The authorities have increased security checks at Bole International Airport and there are reports of ethnic Tigrayans being prevented from boarding flights." It notes "a small number of cases of arbitrary detention of British nationals in Ethiopia" and says: "Kidnapping is widespread in parts of Ethiopia, with incidents in the Oromia, Amhara and Somali regions and on the southern border with Kenya."
What it means for operators
For teams based in or moving through Addis Ababa, the reported attacks now explicitly include the capital, so the advice to keep away from military sites applies there as much as anywhere. Review hotel and residence locations against nearby barracks and military facilities, plan routes that avoid passing or stopping near them, and brief every team member not to approach or touch debris. At Bole, allow extra time for security checks, and plan for the possibility that a team member or local staff member of Tigrayan origin is stopped from boarding. As the FCDO advises, carry a paper copy of passports and the British Embassy contact details in case anyone is questioned or detained.
