Pro-government forces in Ethiopia's Tigray region have regained control of the capital city, Mekelle, according to a statement by the Tigray Peace Forces, a pro-government militia, on Sunday. The militia confirmed that its fighters had taken control of the city, which is a significant setback for the opposition alliance led by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).
A source close to the militia had earlier told Reuters that the Tigray Peace Forces entered the centre of Mekelle on Saturday afternoon, followed by the Ethiopian military. The TPLF, which leads the opposition alliance, confirmed in a statement that it had retreated from the capital and that the regional government would be temporarily relocated out of Mekelle.
A humanitarian source and a Mekelle resident, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed that the city was now in the hands of government forces and their allies. The loss of Mekelle is a major blow to the TPLF, which had launched a large-scale offensive against the Ethiopian military on September 23.
The Ethiopian federal government has made a swift counterattack into Tigray, but analysts warn that the fighting could escalate into a wider regional conflict. The conflict has already led to a deterioration in diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea, with the federal government in Addis Ababa severing diplomatic ties with Eritrea last week.
The Ethiopian government accuses Eritrea, along with Sudan and Egypt, of supporting the rebel alliance. However, Eritrea and Sudan have denied any involvement, while Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has also denied backing the TPLF and its allies. Abdelatty emphasized that Egypt is not party to the domestic crisis facing Ethiopia.
The conflict has also raised concerns about the region's stability, particularly given the long-standing tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia over the construction of a major dam on the Nile River. Egypt views the dam as a threat to its water security, with Abdelatty describing it as an "existential issue" affecting 110 million people.
The situation in the Tigray region remains volatile, with the regional government temporarily relocating out of Mekelle. The international community is closely watching the developments, with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi set to meet with his Eritrean and Somali counterparts in Egypt on Sunday to discuss the crisis.
Key points
- - Pro-government forces have regained control of Mekelle, the capital of Ethiopia's Tigray region. - The loss of Mekelle is a significant blow to the opposition alliance led by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). - The conflict has raised concerns about regional stability and the long-standing tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia over the construction of a major dam on the Nile River.
