Ethiopian government forces seize Tigray capital Mekelle as TPLF withdraws

Ethiopian government forces and allied units have seized control of Mekelle, the capital of the northern Tigray region, following a withdrawal by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and its armed opposition coalition. The sudden shift in control marks a severe escalation in northern Ethiopia, shattering the fragile 2022 Pretoria Agreement that had previously ended years of devastating civil conflict.

The latest round of hostilities erupted when seven armed and political groups launched an offensive aimed at unseating Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government. Federal troops and pro-government militias, including the Tigray Peace Forces, pushed rapidly along multiple axes across the Tigray, Amhara, and Afar regions. According to reporting from Al Jazeera, federal forces successfully recaptured Mekelle's main airport before entering the city center on Saturday afternoon. A humanitarian source and local residents confirmed to TRT World that government forces had established full control over the regional hub.

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In a statement posted on social media, the TPLF confirmed it had temporarily abandoned Mekelle. TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael outlined plans to pivot toward guerrilla warfare, stating that the group would operate under a strategy to strike adversaries wherever chosen. Local residents reported that retreating fighters and leaders left government offices and police stations entirely unstaffed, leaving public infrastructure vulnerable to looting and lawlessness. These anxieties were echoed by journalists on the ground who witnessed police facilities abandoned without security personnel.

The renewed violence has placed immense strain on diplomatic ties across the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia has accused Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt of backing the opposition coalition, allegations that Khartoum and Cairo have formally denied. Tensions with Asmara deteriorated sharply after Addis Ababa closed its embassy and expelled 10 Eritrean diplomats. In retaliation, Eritrea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it was severing all diplomatic ties with Ethiopia, rejecting accusations of interference while citing years of ongoing hostility.

The human toll of the renewed clashes has alarmed international observers. Amnesty International reported receiving credible accounts of civilian infrastructure destroyed by shelling and air strikes, alongside forced conscription. Meanwhile, Doctors Without Borders recorded a sharp surge in wounded patients arriving at northern facilities. Laura Hammond, a professor in development studies at SOAS University of London, noted that regional spillover risks are already materializing through external alignments and cross-border tensions.

International pressure is mounting to prevent further destabilization. The United States Department of State urged all parties to respect territorial integrity and return to dialogue. Concurrently, diplomatic sources indicated that regional leaders from Egypt, Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan were scheduled to meet to address the spiraling crisis.

What happens next depends heavily on whether the TPLF's retreat leads to protracted guerrilla resistance or if regional diplomatic talks can establish a durable truce. Humanitarian organizations remain deeply concerned about whether unhindered aid access can be restored to vulnerable populations caught in the crossfire as federal forces consolidate control over the region.