Ethiopian Forces Retake Mekelle Amid Regional Tensions

Ethiopia’s federal forces have reportedly retaken Alula Aba Nega Airport, the main airport serving Mekelle, as Tigrayan rebel fighters and leaders were seen leaving the city. Reuters cited a source familiar with events and a humanitarian source, while AFP cited a local journalist and residents. The journalist said federal troops had not yet been seen inside Mekelle. Residents expressed fears of looting, lawlessness, and personal danger in the absence of security forces. Al Jazeera said it could not independently verify the reports, noting that media access is heavily restricted and communications blackouts have occurred. The airport was one of three airfields seized by rebels when renewed fighting began on September 23. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) recently formed a seven-party coalition, which later launched an offensive around Tigray and fought near the borders with Amhara and Afar. The federal government is counterattacking along three routes toward Mekelle, according to the Critical Threats Project. Fighting has largely remained in Tigray, although rebels have reportedly launched drone attacks on Addis Ababa. Neither the TPLF nor the government had commented on the latest developments. The article describes drone attacks, intensified forced conscription, and attacks on civilian infrastructure, while noting that the renewed conflict has not yet reached the scale of the 2020–2022 Tigray war, which caused hundreds of thousands of deaths. It also highlights the risk of regional escalation: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government has accused Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt of supporting the opposition coalition; Sudan and Egypt deny involvement, and Eritrea has severed diplomatic ties with Ethiopia. Eritrea, in turn, denies involvement in the conflict and accuses Ethiopia of hostility and seeking Red Sea access. TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael described the war as regional and linked it to control of the Red Sea, while Ethiopia has said it does not seek conflict with Eritrea over coastal access.

Ethiopian government forces have retaken Alula Aba Nega Airport in Mekelle and made gains across Tigray after more than a week of fighting with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and allied forces. The renewed clashes, which began on September 23, have effectively shattered the November 2022 Pretoria Agreement. Sources in Mekelle reported fighters leaving their posts, government offices and police stations without security, and concerns about looting and lawlessness. Federal-aligned forces had also taken several towns and were closing in on the regional capital. The fighting spans Tigray, Amhara and Afar. Alamata, a supply hub near Tigray’s southern border, has changed hands, while clashes in Afar could threaten supply routes from Djibouti, a major route for Ethiopian imports. Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of supporting armed groups opposed to its government; Eritrea denies involvement. Fighting has also been reported in North Wollo, and an explosion at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Defence in Addis Ababa raised concerns that the conflict could reach the capital. The humanitarian toll is severe: at least 52 civilians have been killed, and Doctors Without Borders has reported a surge in wounded people. Amnesty International cited credible reports of damage to civilian objects from shelling and air strikes, forced conscription and other possible violations of international law. It urged the African Union to convene an emergency session and activate its response mechanisms. Regional escalation is a major concern. Eritrea has severed diplomatic ties with Ethiopia, whose relations had already deteriorated amid mutual accusations and disputes. Analysts warn that Eritrea could become more directly involved in Tigray and that fighting could inflame tensions in Sudan. Wider instability around the Red Sea and Horn of Africa adds to fears that the conflict could affect neighbouring states and important trade routes.

Ethiopian federal forces and allied pro-government forces entered Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, on Saturday, after reports that Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) fighters and leaders had left the city. A humanitarian source said government forces were seen in several locations, while a journalist reported that government offices and police stations had been left without security personnel. Residents feared looting, lawlessness and danger to civilians. Severe communications disruptions and restricted media access have made reports difficult to verify; Ethiopian federal officials had not responded to requests for comment. The latest fighting began on September 23, when the TPLF launched attacks into neighbouring Afar and Amhara states. The rebels initially advanced with local militias, but pro-government forces pushed them back and began a counter-offensive along three routes toward Mekelle. Reports said the city’s airport had fallen to a pro-government militia. The renewed conflict has revived fears of another civil war like the devastating 2020–2022 conflict, which the African Union estimates killed more than 600,000 people. TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael suggested the group could continue guerrilla-style attacks, recalling its insurgency after Mekelle fell to federal forces in 2020 and its return to the city in 2021. The TPLF had governed Ethiopia from 1991 until it was marginalised after Abiy Ahmed became prime minister in 2018, and it later removed a government-appointed administration in Tigray. The fighting has also intensified regional tensions. Ethiopia accused Eritrea and Egypt of supporting the rebels, expelled Eritrean diplomats, and closed its embassy in Asmara; Eritrea said it would sever diplomatic ties. Ethiopia also expelled an Egyptian diplomat, prompting a reciprocal action by Cairo. Eritrea accused Ethiopia of planning to seize access to its coastline, while Debretsion described the conflict as a regional struggle over the Red Sea. A diplomatic source said regional leaders were expected to meet in Egypt on Sunday. The 2022 Pretoria peace agreement had eased the previous war but was never fully implemented.

The article reports that renewed fighting in Ethiopia is spreading rapidly and may have implications beyond the country, as suggested by its headline. Explosions were heard during the week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, which is described as a city rarely subjected to direct attack. The circumstances surrounding the apparent drone strikes remain unclear, but the incident is presented as evidence of how far and how quickly the renewed conflict has spread. Meanwhile, clashes between government troops and rebel groups in northern Ethiopia have killed scores of civilians in recent days. The fighting has also moved south toward Lalibela, an important pilgrimage site. The supplied article excerpt does not provide further details about the wider regional risks mentioned in the headline, the identities of the rebel groups, or the causes and consequences of the apparent strikes.