Ethiopia’s forces retake Mekelle amid renewed Tigray fighting

Ethiopian federal troops and allied fighters have seized control of Mekelle, the regional capital of Tigray, marking a dramatic escalation in renewed hostilities in the country's north. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front acknowledged its withdrawal from the city on Saturday, stating that its regional administration would operate temporarily from an alternative location to prevent urban destruction while continuing military operations elsewhere.

The recapture of the regional capital, corroborated by humanitarian personnel and local residents speaking to news agencies, comes less than four years after the November 2022 Pretoria peace accord halted a devastating two-year war. That prior conflict left hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced. Relations between the federal government and the TPLF deteriorated sharply in recent months, with the group declaring in July that the peace framework had collapsed amid disputes over disarmament, displaced populations, and contested territories.

Following the withdrawal of regional fighters, local witnesses reported brief periods of looting before government forces secured critical infrastructure across Mekelle, including the local airport. Federal officials quickly signaled plans to consolidate administrative authority in the area. Abraham Belay, the former head of the Tigray Interim Administration, announced on Sunday that steps are underway to assemble a new regional leadership structure from local community levels upward, with the goal of conducting regional elections within months.

The resurgence of conflict has already begun rippling across Ethiopia and into the wider region. In the capital, Addis Ababa, diplomatic sources reported explosions near key military sites, with an opposition coalition claiming responsibility for drone strikes against defense installations. The renewed clashes have expanded beyond Tigray into the neighboring Afar region and involve a coalition of anti-government groups.

Regional tensions have also spiked significantly between Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea. Addis Ababa recently shut down its embassy in Asmara and expelled ten Eritrean diplomats, accusing the country of undermining internal stability and backing federal opponents. In response, Eritrea terminated diplomatic ties entirely.

The rapid escalation has prompted widespread dread among civilians across the country. Residents in Tigray and Addis Ababa expressed acute concern that the renewed violence could replicate the humanitarian catastrophe of the 2020–2022 conflict, potentially drawing the nation into protracted instability and severe economic hardship.