Ethiopian forces retake Mekelle as TPLF withdraws from Tigray capital
Ethiopian federal forces and allied militias have retaken Mekelle after the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) withdrew, saying its regional administration would operate elsewhere. Reuters and AFP reported that government forces entered the city on Saturday; the TPLF has indicated it will continue fighting. The renewed conflict, which began on 23 September, is the worst escalation since Ethiopia’s 2020–2022 civil war.
Bottom line — The TPLF says its administration will operate outside Mekelle, while the African Union has urged restraint as regional tensions rise.
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Reuters reported that the TPLF launched its offensive on 23 September; federal forces then counterattacked into Tigray.
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DW said the TPLF had seized Mekelle’s airport during the offensive; government forces later reported recapturing it.
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The TPLF said the regional government would be temporarily moved out of Mekelle, according to Reuters.
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AFP reported that shops remained closed after government forces entered the city, with residents concerned about security.
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Reuters reported that Ethiopia severed diplomatic ties with Eritrea, accusing it of supporting the rebel alliance; Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt deny backing the rebels.
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At a meeting in Egypt, regional leaders called for disputes to be resolved peacefully, according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency reported by AFP.
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The African Union called on all sides to show maximum restraint, DW reported.
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AFP reported that the 2020–2022 civil war killed more than 600,000 people, according to the African Union.