Ethiopian government forces and allied fighters have retaken the capital of the northern Tigray region, which rebels seized less than two weeks ago.
Fighters from the pro-government Tigray Peace Forces (TPF) announced in a post on Facebook on Sunday that they had “completely taken control” of Mekelle.
Footage shared by the TPF and dated October 3 shows armed men in military uniforms and vans moving through the streets, with horns sounding as people cheer. The forces entered the city center on Saturday afternoon, followed by federal troops, Reuters reported, citing a source close to the militia.
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which governs the region, acknowledged its retreat in a statement posted on Facebook. It said the regional administration “has decided to temporarily leave Mekelle and operate from another location, while our forces continue carrying out their military operations.”
Residents reported looting of government offices during the withdrawal, while internet and cellphone disruptions have hampered verification of developments, AP reported.
Federal troops also recovered Mekelle’s airport, which TPLF fighters seized on September 23, prompting Ethiopian Airlines to suspend flights to the city and two other Tigrayan destinations.
The East African country has struggled to secure lasting stability since an African Union-mediated peace agreement signed in November 2022 ended the two-year Tigray war, which killed hundreds of thousands. The conflict grew out of a power struggle between the federal government and the TPLF, whose decades of dominance in national politics ended when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office in 2018. Disputes over disarmament, territory, and the return of displaced people remain unresolved.
The latest escalation followed the formation of an opposition alliance between the TPLF and six other armed groups, including former battlefield enemies, seeking to oust Abiy. On September 24, the Ethiopian National Defense Force said it had killed 272 TPLF fighters and wounded another 260 in a counteroffensive. Tigray’s regional authorities said their troops entered a “defensive battle” after federal forces attacked them with aircraft, drones, and artillery.
The fighting has also deepened a regional diplomatic crisis, with Ethiopia accusing Egypt, Eritrea, and Sudan of supporting the rebels. All three deny the allegations. Ethiopia announced the closure of its embassy in Eritrea and expelled ten Eritrean diplomats on Thursday, citing Asmara’s “direct and indirect acts of hostility.” Eritrea responded by severing ties, claiming Addis Ababa was plotting to take its ports and backing Eritrean opposition groups to pursue regime change. Addis Ababa also ordered an Egyptian diplomat to leave within 48 hours. Cairo retaliated by giving an Ethiopian Embassy counselor the same deadline.
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