Mekelle Falls Back Under Government Control as TPLF Withdraws Amid Renewed Fighting
Ethiopian government forces and allied militias have regained control of Mekelle, the capital of the northern Tigray region, in a major setback for the opposition alliance led by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
The Tigray Peace Forces, a pro-government militia, said its fighters had entered the centre of Mekelle on Saturday, followed by Ethiopian federal troops. A humanitarian source and a resident of the city also confirmed that government forces and their allies were in control.
The TPLF confirmed that it had withdrawn from Mekelle, saying the regional government would be temporarily relocated and operate from another location. The withdrawal follows a major offensive launched by the TPLF on September 23 against Ethiopian federal forces.
MAJOR SETBACK FOR THE OPPOSITION
The loss of Mekelle represents a significant reversal for the TPLF and its wider opposition alliance, which has been challenging Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government.
The latest fighting marks the most serious escalation in Tigray since the devastating 2020–2022 war between federal forces and Tigrayan fighters. That conflict ended with a 2022 peace agreement, but tensions between Addis Ababa and Tigray’s political leadership have remained unresolved.
The TPLF had recently seized Mekelle’s airport and parts of the city, prompting the suspension of commercial flights to several Tigrayan destinations. Federal forces subsequently launched a counteroffensive, with government troops also regaining control of the city’s main airport.
CIVILIANS FACE FURTHER DISRUPTION
The renewed conflict has added to the hardships facing civilians who are still recovering from the previous war.
Communications in Tigray have been severely disrupted, making it difficult to independently verify developments on the ground. Residents have also reported looting of government offices and other facilities as TPLF-aligned fighters withdrew from Mekelle.
The African Union has urged restraint, warning that the renewed violence threatens the fragile peace established by the 2022 agreement. The United States has likewise called on Ethiopia and Eritrea to exercise maximum restraint and return to dialogue.
REGIONAL TENSIONS RISE
The fighting is unfolding against a backdrop of rapidly deteriorating relations between Ethiopia and neighbouring Eritrea.
Addis Ababa has accused Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting the opposition alliance led by the TPLF. All three countries have denied involvement. Egypt has specifically rejected accusations that it is supporting the TPLF.
Ethiopia and Eritrea have also recently severed diplomatic ties, adding another layer of tension to an already volatile situation in the Horn of Africa. The two countries have longstanding disputes, including over Ethiopia’s desire for access to Red Sea ports and Egypt’s concerns over Ethiopia’s Nile River dam.
UNCERTAIN ROAD AHEAD
With Mekelle back under government control, attention is now turning to whether the latest military setback will lead to further fighting or create an opening for renewed negotiations.
The TPLF’s withdrawal does not necessarily mark the end of the conflict, and analysts warn that continued fighting could draw in neighbouring countries and further destabilise the Horn of Africa.
For civilians in Tigray, the immediate priority remains security, access to essential services and the restoration of communications and transport links as the region confronts another period of uncertainty.
