Ethiopian Forces Retake Mekelle as Tigray Conflict Enters Second Week
Ethiopian federal forces and allied fighters have retaken Mekelle, the capital of the northern Tigray region, after the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) withdrew from the city amid renewed fighting.
The TPLF confirmed its withdrawal, saying its regional administration would temporarily operate from another location. Government-aligned forces subsequently took control of key sites, including the city’s airport, with communications and some services beginning to return.
The development is a major setback for the TPLF, which launched a new offensive on September 23, reviving a conflict that had been largely halted by the 2022 peace agreement. The earlier Tigray war killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions.
However, the recapture of Mekelle has not ended the fighting. Reports indicate continued artillery exchanges and airstrikes in other parts of Tigray, with humanitarian sources reporting at least 17 deaths in strikes northwest of the capital. The reports could not be independently verified by Reuters.
The renewed conflict is also worsening tensions across the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia has accused Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting the opposition alliance, allegations all three countries deny. Ethiopia and Eritrea have already severed diplomatic ties, while regional leaders from Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan and Somalia have held talks over the growing risk of a wider conflict.
For residents of Mekelle, the immediate return of federal control has brought some relief, but also uncertainty over whether the latest fighting could develop into another prolonged war.
