Fighters and leaders of the Tigray People's Liberation Front left Mekelle, the capital of Ethiopia's northern region, on Saturday as federal forces and allied groups advanced towards the city. At the same time, an armed group aligned with the federal government announced that it had retaken control of Mekelle's main airport.
Mekelle evacuated as security institutions left vacant
A local journalist told the French news agency that the Front's fighters and leaders were leaving Mekelle, adding that police stations and government offices had been left without security personnel. The journalist said government forces had not yet been seen inside the city, despite advancing with allied forces towards the regional capital.
The absence of security personnel from official institutions and police stations heightened Mekelle residents' fears of deteriorating security. One resident said they feared public and government property would be looted, while another warned of the possibility of “chaos spreading through the city” and called for the rule of law and order to be restored swiftly.
Tigray Peace Forces announce control of airport
In a parallel development, the Tigray Peace Forces, backed by the federal government, announced that they had retaken control of Mekelle Alula Aba Nega Airport, the main airport in the regional capital. The group said in a post on the X platform late on Friday: “We have established full control over Mekelle Alula Aba Nega Airport. We are currently combing Mekelle city.”
The developments around Mekelle follow fierce clashes in northern Ethiopia since 23 September, after attacks by the Tigray People's Liberation Front on the Afar and Amhara regions. Federal forces and government-aligned groups managed to repel the attacks before launching a counter-offensive and advancing north towards Tigray's capital.
Taking control of Mekelle would represent a major setback for the opposition alliance led by the Tigray People's Liberation Front. The current escalation is the most serious since the civil war that took place in northern Ethiopia between 2020 and 2022 and claimed about 600,000 lives. The renewed fighting has raised fears that Ethiopia could return to a large-scale conflict, as analysts warn that the current confrontations could expand and develop into a wider regional conflict.
