Ethiopian federal forces have taken control of the Tigray People's Liberation Front's (TPLF) regional capital, Mekelle, according to a local journalist. The city fell without a fight on Saturday, as TPLF leaders and troops retreated. Federal troops are now patrolling Mekelle and manning key institutions, with communications restored after a week-long outage. This development comes as the conflict in Tigray sparks fears of a wider regional war.
The TPLF launched attacks against federal forces on September 23, triggering concerns of a return to the devastating civil war of 2020-2022. Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of directly backing the TPLF, with Sudan and Egypt also allegedly providing support, claims all three countries deny. A counter-offensive by Ethiopian forces has led to significant gains, with the TPLF leaders and troops abandoning Mekelle.
The presidents of Egypt, Somalia, Sudan, and Eritrea met in the Egyptian city of Alamein on Sunday to discuss the conflict's regional implications. The mini-summit, held on the sidelines of an African Business Forum, brought together Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki, Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and the head of the Sudanese Armed Forces, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
Eritrea, which shares a long border with Tigray state, is directly involved in the conflict. It accuses landlocked Ethiopia of planning to invade and seize access to its coastline. Analysts believe Eritrea has backed the TPLF in a bid to keep the conflict away from its border. The TPLF has long been the dominant force in Tigray, ousting a government-appointed administration this year.
The TPLF's leader, Debretsion Gebremichael, implied that the group would continue guerrilla-style attacks, similar to those employed when Mekelle fell to government forces in 2020. Their insurgent campaign ultimately led to the TPLF retaking the city the following year. Debretsion stated that the group operates under a strategy to strike the enemy wherever they choose.
The TPLF ruled all of Ethiopia from 1991 to 2018, when it was marginalized with the rise of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who hails from the Oromia region. The tensions led to a civil war from 2020 to 2022 that left more than 600,000 dead, according to the African Union, making it one of the deadliest conflicts in the world in recent times.
The situation on the ground remains uncertain, with businesses and shops in Mekelle closed, and owners moving stock to safer locations ahead of time, fearing looting and vandalism. Residents reported that they had to organize themselves to take care of security, as there are no police present. A commander with a pro-government militia stated that they have taken control of Mekelle and are marching forward.
Key points
- Ethiopian forces take control of Tigray's Mekelle
- Regional rivals meet in Egypt to discuss conflict implications
- TPLF leader vows to continue guerrilla-style attacks
