Forces allied with Ethiopia's federal government are advancing towards Mekelle, the capital of the northern Tigray region, amid renewed fighting that has raised fears of a wider conflict. The pro-government Tigray Peace Forces militia reported capturing Milazat, a town about 20 kilometres southeast of Mekelle. A video posted on social media purportedly filmed in Milazat showed Tigray Peace Forces fighters chanting "Mekelle! Mekelle!"
The Ethiopian military and government, as well as the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), have not immediately responded to requests for comment on the reported advance. The latest fighting is the worst escalation since Ethiopia's 2020-2022 civil war. Federal forces and allied fighters have made rapid advances in Tigray since clashes resumed last week with an opposition alliance led by the TPLF.
The escalation has coincided with a sharp deterioration in relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Ethiopia announced on Thursday that it was closing its embassy in Eritrea due to "direct and indirect acts of hostility and belligerence" and ordered 10 Eritrean diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours. Eritrea responded by severing all diplomatic ties with Ethiopia.
The two countries fought a border war from 1998 to 2000 and restored diplomatic relations in 2018. Ethiopia has accused Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting the opposition alliance, allegations that have been denied by all three countries. The African Union Commission has urged Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt to exercise maximum restraint and resolve their differences through diplomatic channels and peaceful dialogue.
In Mekelle, residents are preparing for possible fighting, with banks and shops closed on Friday. A diplomatic source reported that some senior TPLF leaders had already left the city and that the conflict could continue even if federal forces captured Mekelle. The TPLF's chairman, Debretsion Gebremichael, acknowledged on Thursday that federal forces had occupied parts of Tigray but vowed to launch a counter-offensive.
The TPLF has formed an alliance with six other Ethiopian armed groups seeking to overthrow Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. The alliance initially made gains in the Amhara and Afar regions, which border Tigray, but pro-government forces claim they have since reversed many of those advances. Explosions were heard in Addis Ababa late on Wednesday, which a source linked to the opposition alliance said were caused by drone attacks targeting federal military headquarters and other sites.
If confirmed, the attacks would be the first known drone strikes by anti-government forces on Addis Ababa, hundreds of kilometres from the main battlefront. Eritrea fought alongside Ethiopia's federal forces during the 2020-2022 war, when hundreds of thousands of people were killed and millions displaced. Relations have since deteriorated, partly over Ethiopia's stated desire to secure access to the Red Sea.
Key points
- The conflict has led to a sharp deterioration in relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
- The TPLF has formed an alliance with six other Ethiopian armed groups seeking to overthrow Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government.
- The conflict has raised fears of a wider conflict and hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced since the 2020-2022 war.
