Ethiopian federal forces and allied militias are advancing toward Mekelle, the capital of the northern Tigray region, as fighting intensifies between the government and an armed alliance led by the Tigray People's Liberation Front. The pro-government Tigray Peace Forces militia reported capturing Milazat, a town about 20 kilometres southeast of Mekelle. Videos on social media appear to show fighters in the town, but independent verification is pending.
The Ethiopian military and allied forces have made rapid advances in Tigray since fighting erupted last week. This renewed conflict is the most serious escalation in the region since the 2020-2022 war between the federal government and the TPLF, which resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions displaced. Fear is growing in Mekelle as residents prepare for the possibility of fighting reaching the city.
Residents in Mekelle are taking precautions, with banks and most shops closed. A diplomatic source reported that some senior TPLF leaders have already left Mekelle, but fighting could continue even if federal forces capture the regional capital. TPLF chairman Debretsion Gebremichael acknowledged that federal forces have taken control of parts of Tigray but vowed to launch a counterattack.
The latest fighting follows the formation of an alliance between the TPLF and six other Ethiopian armed groups, which seeks to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. This escalation has coincided with a deterioration in Ethiopia's relations with Eritrea. Addis Ababa announced the closure of its embassy in Asmara and ordered 10 Eritrean diplomats to leave Ethiopia within 48 hours.
Eritrea responded by severing diplomatic ties with Ethiopia. The two countries previously fought a border war between 1998 and 2000 before restoring diplomatic relations in 2018. Ethiopia has accused Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt of supporting the armed opposition alliance, allegations that have been denied by the three countries.
The diplomatic dispute with Egypt escalated after Ethiopia expelled an Egyptian diplomat, prompting Cairo to expel an Ethiopian embassy counsellor in response. The African Union Commission has urged Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Egypt to exercise restraint and resolve their differences through diplomatic channels and peaceful dialogue.
The fighting has raised concerns about a wider regional conflict, given Tigray's borders with Eritrea and Sudan, and Sudan's ongoing civil war. Explosions were heard in Addis Ababa late Wednesday, with a source linked to the opposition alliance claiming that drones targeted federal military facilities. The renewed conflict comes as Tigray remains fragile after the 2022 peace agreement that ended the previous war.
Key points
- The Ethiopian military and allied forces are advancing toward Mekelle, the capital of Tigray.
- The renewed conflict has raised concerns about a wider regional conflict.
- The African Union Commission has urged restraint and peaceful dialogue to resolve the differences between Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Egypt.
