Ethiopian federal forces have regained control of the Tigrayan capital, Mekelle, as reported by a local journalist on Sunday. This development comes after a period of intense fighting between the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and federal forces that began on September 23. The conflict has raised concerns about a potential return to the devastating civil war of 2020-2022. According to the journalist, federal troops are now patrolling Mekelle and manning key institutions.
The Ethiopian federal forces entered Mekelle on Saturday without encountering resistance, as TPLF leaders and troops abandoned the city. This move was part of a counter-offensive by Ethiopian forces, which have pushed deep into rebel-held territory. The regional rivals of Ethiopia, including Egypt, Somalia, Sudan, and Eritrea, have gathered in Egypt to discuss the risk of a wider war. They emphasized the need for peaceful resolution of disputes and respect for international law.
A mini-summit in El-Alamein, Egypt, brought together Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, Somalian President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and Sudanese Armed Forces head Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. The leaders called for adherence to international law and voiced opposition to unilateral measures that could harm downstream countries. This meeting was prompted by concerns that Ethiopia's escalating violence could spill across borders.
Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of directly backing the Tigray rebels, a claim denied by Eritrea. The TPLF has long been the dominant force in Tigray but was marginalized with the rise of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in 2018. The tensions led to a civil war from 2020 to 2022 that resulted in over 600,000 deaths. The Pretoria peace agreement of 2022 helped maintain a degree of peace until last year.
Despite the federal forces' control of Mekelle, the situation remains uncertain. Shops and businesses remained closed, with owners moving stock to safer locations to prevent looting and vandalism. Residents reported that they had to organize themselves to maintain security in the absence of police. Some residents expressed relief that the intensity of the war was decreasing but feared it could drag on.
The TPLF's leader, Debretsion Gebremichael, has implied that the group would continue guerrilla-style attacks. The rebels' insurgent campaign ultimately led to the TPLF retaking Mekelle in 2021 after it fell to government forces in 2020. Debretsion stated that the TPLF operates under a strategy to strike the enemy wherever they choose.
The conflict has also affected relations between Ethiopia and its neighboring countries. Egypt and Ethiopia have been locked in a dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which Cairo fears could reduce its share of Nile waters. Eritrea, which shares a long border with the Tigray region, accuses Ethiopia of planning to invade and seize access to its coastline.
Key points
- Ethiopian federal forces have regained control of Mekelle.
- The conflict has raised concerns about a potential return to the devastating civil war of 2020-2022.
- The regional rivals of Ethiopia emphasized the need for peaceful resolution of disputes and respect for international law.
