Ethiopian government forces seize Tigray capital Mekelle as TPLF withdraws

Ethiopian federal troops and allied pro-government fighters have established control over Mekelle, the largest city in the northern Tigray region, after reclaiming the city’s main airport, multiple humanitarian sources and news agencies reported. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which leads an armed opposition alliance, announced on social media that it had "temporarily moved out of Mekelle" to continue operations elsewhere. Witnesses and humanitarian workers relayed that fighters from the Tigray Peace Forces, a pro-government militia, entered Mekelle’s centre on Saturday afternoon prior to the arrival of Ethiopian federal troops, according to Reuters. AFP also cited on-the-ground sources reporting the TPLF had abandoned the regional capital and that government and allied forces were observed across various city locations. The sudden advance follows the breakdown of a 2022 peace agreement that had ended a destructive war between federal forces and Tigrayan fighters. Renewed clashes began on September 23 after seven armed and political groups formed a coalition aiming to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government and install a transitional administration, reigniting fears of widespread conflict in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia has accused Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting the opposition coalition; Khartoum and Cairo have denied involvement, while Eritrea cut diplomatic ties with Ethiopia in response to the accusations. The United States urged Ethiopia and Eritrea to respect neighbors’ sovereignty, exercise restraint, and return to dialogue, warning that rising tensions could have regional consequences. The TPLF originated as an armed resistance movement in the 1970s and later dominated a governing coalition in Ethiopia until 2018. Relations with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government deteriorated, culminating in the 2020-2022 war that caused mass casualties, widespread displacement, and isolation of Tigray from the rest of the country.