Ethiopia’s federal army has taken control of Alula Aba Nega Airport, the main airport in Mekelle, the capital of the northern Tigray region, three sources said on Saturday. The development represents a setback for the opposition alliance in its stronghold, as gunfire and troop movements continue around the city.
Tigray clashes intensify around Mekelle
The military developments come amid growing tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, following a deterioration in diplomatic relations between the two countries. A source familiar with events in Mekelle and a humanitarian worker said forces from Ethiopia’s national army had taken control of the airport.
Accounts describe troops deployed inside the city
A third source, a city resident who requested anonymity for security reasons, confirmed that government forces were at the facility and said gunfire could be heard outside central Mekelle. The resident added that they had seen some Tigray Defence Forces fighters leave their positions and head home, and reported looting at government facilities in the city.
The claims could not immediately be independently verified, and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, the region’s ruling party, could not be reached for comment. In contrast, a source close to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front said Mekelle was now surrounded by government forces and allied militias. The airport is about 10 kilometres from the city centre, giving it military and logistical importance in the ongoing confrontation.
Mekelle airport was one of three airports in Tigray seized by opposition forces when the fighting began on 23 September. A government takeover of the city would be a major setback for the opposition alliance, but analysts rule out the possibility that it would end the conflict on its own.
Washington urges Ethiopia and Eritrea to de-escalate
In Washington, US State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the United States was strongly urging Ethiopia and Eritrea to “exercise the utmost restraint and return to dialogue and cooperation as agreed under their 2018 peace framework”. Pigott added: “The Horn of Africa cannot withstand another military conflict and humanitarian crisis...
the conflict puts at risk ongoing US cooperation on shared interests with both countries.” The federal government in Addis Ababa severed diplomatic ties with Eritrea during the week, accusing it, along with Sudan and Egypt, of supporting the rebel alliance. All three countries deny Ethiopia’s accusations that they have provided support to the alliance.
The current developments recall the course of the previous war in Tigray. In 2020, federal forces seized Mekelle during the first month of the two-year war, before the Tigray People’s Liberation Front recaptured the city seven months later.
