Ethiopian federal forces have taken control of the Tigray rebels' regional capital, Mekelle, according to a local journalist. The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) launched attacks against federal forces on September 23, sparking fears of a return to the devastating civil war of 2020-2022. The conflict has led to a significant escalation in tensions between Ethiopia and its regional rivals.
The presidents of Egypt, Somalia, Sudan, and Eritrea, all of whom have difficult relations with Ethiopia, gathered in Egypt to discuss the risk of a wider war. The mini-summit in Alamein brought together Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki, and Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, as well as the head of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. The meeting aimed to address the growing concerns over the conflict.
Eritrea, which shares a long border with Tigray state, is directly involved in the conflict and accuses landlocked Ethiopia of planning to invade and seize access to its coastline. Analysts say Eritrea has backed the rebels in Ethiopia 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 as they did when Mekelle fell to government forces in 2020 during the last war. Their insurgent campaign ultimately led to the TPLF retaking the city the following year. The group ruled all of Ethiopia from 1991 to 2018, when it was marginalized with the rise of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The tensions between the TPLF and the Ethiopian government 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 in the world in recent times. The Pretoria peace agreement of 2022, brokered by African institutions and Washington, was never fully implemented but still helped keep some kind of peace until last year.
Federal troops were patrolling Mekelle and manning key institutions on Sunday, as communications were restored for the first time in more than a week. Businesses and shops remained closed, with 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 due to the lack of police.
A commander with a pro-government militia stated that they had taken control of Mekelle and were marching forward. The situation remains uncertain, with residents speaking on condition of anonymity due to the uncertainty of the situation. The conflict has led to significant concerns over the humanitarian situation in the region.
Key points
- Ethiopian federal forces control Tigray's capital, Mekelle.
- Regional rivals meet in Egypt to discuss the conflict.
- The conflict has led to significant concerns over the humanitarian situation in the region.
