Axolotl contact list suddenly empty and contact import does not work anymore [BUG]

[GerryT11]

Description

I use Axolotl on a daily basis and last weekend I noticed that my contact list in Axolotl was suddenly empty. I tried to reimport the contacts from the address book to the contact list, but this doesn't seem to work any more. Axolotl keeps displaying a message that "Contacts will be imported, please come back later", but nothing ever happens. Even if I try to add only 1 contact from the address book (I regularly communicate with this person via Signal), this contact doesn't get added to contact list.

Is this a new regression of Axolotl/Signal? Is there any workaround?

System:
Axolotl 1.6.0
UbPorts OTA-25
Volla 22
There weren't any relevant updates in the past weeks, which IMHO could have caused this bug.

Steps to Reproduce

1. [First Step]
2. [Second Step]
3. [and so on...]

Expected behavior: [What you expect to happen]

Actual behavior: [What actually happens]

Versions

Please provide the Version as written in Settings->About Axolotl

Device

What device or OS are you using?

Link to Debug Log

Please provide a link to debug from ~/.cache/upstart/application-click-textsecure.nanuc_textsecure*.log
Be careful it contains sensible data

[GerryT11]

The issue with the contact lists has been confirmed by other users: https://forums.ubports.com/topic/9031/signal-axolotl-contact-list-suddenly-empty-and-contact-import-does-not-work-anymore?_=1687280733301