Ethiopian federal forces entered Mekelle, the capital of Tigray region, on Saturday after forces loyal to the regional authorities had largely withdrawn, while an armed group allied with the federal government announced that it had retaken control of the city’s main airport. The move came days after government forces launched a counter-offensive inside Tigray along three axes towards the regional capital.
The government-backed Tigray Peace Forces said in a post on X late on Friday: “We have established full control over Alula Aba Nega Mekelle Airport. We are currently carrying out clearance operations in Mekelle.” Former Tigray regional president Getachew Reda said the battle was “over” and that the federal army was now in control of the regional capital.
He added that government forces were heading towards other towns to complete their takeover. A source, citing field teams, said: “Ethiopian federal forces and their allies have been spotted at several locations” in Mekelle. Before these forces entered, a journalist said fighters and commanders of the Front were leaving Mekelle, adding that government offices and police stations had been emptied of security personnel.
Opposition alliance retreats after initial advance
The capture of Mekelle represents a major setback for an opposition alliance led by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, the region’s ruling party, which launched a wide-ranging assault on the Ethiopian army last week. At the start of the clashes, alliance forces had advanced into the neighbouring regions of Afar and Amhara, with the participation of local armed groups.
But the attacking forces were forced to retreat during the week after federal forces began a counter-offensive inside Tigray from three axes towards Mekelle, according to the Critical Threats Project of the American Enterprise Institute. Areas of northern Ethiopia have witnessed intense clashes since 23 September, following the alliance’s attacks on Afar and Amhara.
Fears of renewed war and worsening humanitarian crisis
The clashes raised fears of a renewed civil war in the north of the country, which between 2020 and 2022 claimed the lives of around 600,000 people. The conflict also damaged Ethiopia’s relations with Eritrea and Egypt, which Addis Ababa accuses of supporting the rebels. A humanitarian source said the Tigray People’s Liberation Front had withdrawn completely from Afar region as of the previous day.
He added: “There has been no major change in the humanitarian situation after the fighters carried out looting and destruction during their withdrawal,” noting that obtaining food had become impossible in the north of the country.
