In a statement released Saturday, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) said its fighters have withdrawn from Mekelle, Ethiopia’s largest city in the northern Tigray region. The move opens the door for federal troops and the newly formed Tigray Peace Force to move back into the regional capital.
Background to the latest clash
On Sept. 23, TPLF‑aligned fighters seized Mekelle’s airport, prompting Ethiopian Airlines to suspend flights to the city and to the Tigrayan towns of Axum and Shire. The African Union warned that the renewed hostilities threatened the 2022 peace agreement that ended the two‑year war that began in 2020.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has repeatedly sought to bring the region under federal control, but the TPLF, led by Chairman Debretsion Gebremichael, has continued to challenge his authority. Debretsion described the latest fighting as a “continuation of the previous war” and vowed that his forces would keep defending Tigray.
Federal response and the role of the Tigray Peace Force
According to Jalale Getachew Birru, an Ethiopia analyst with the conflict‑monitoring group ACLED, once federal troops secure Mekelle, security responsibilities are likely to be handed to the Tigray Peace Force. That group is composed of former members of the Tigray Defense Forces, the TPLF’s armed wing, who have now aligned with the federal government.
The Tigray Peace Force has already entered Mekelle in small numbers, and residents reported hearing celebratory gunfire as the group moved in.
Local impact and civilian reports
Residents of Mekelle told the Associated Press that federal forces have retaken the airport, though details remain limited. A local business owner, Filmon Equar Hailu, said he witnessed TPLF‑aligned fighters leaving the city in light‑weapon groups, some on foot, beginning about three days ago and continuing through Saturday afternoon.
During the withdrawal, looting was reported at the TPLF administration office, the regional police headquarters, and several shops. Hailu described the looting as “civilians hauling away equipment from police headquarters” as the fighters pulled out.
Regional dynamics and foreign involvement
The conflict continues to strain Ethiopia’s relationships with neighboring countries. Addis Ababa accuses the TPLF of receiving support from Eritrea and Egypt, while both Eritrea and Egypt deny involvement. Tensions have risen after Ethiopia closed its embassy in Eritrea and ordered ten Eritrean diplomats to leave Addis Ababa, citing threats to national security. Eritrea responded by cutting diplomatic ties.
Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki traveled to Egypt for a working visit, where he and Egyptian President Abdel‑Fattah el‑Sissi discussed strengthening bilateral ties.
What comes next?
The withdrawal of TPLF fighters from Mekelle marks a significant shift in the latest round of fighting, but the broader conflict remains unresolved. Analysts note that the presence of the Tigray Peace Force alongside federal troops could stabilize the city, yet the underlying political dispute between Prime Minister Abiy and the TPLF persists.
Humanitarian concerns also linger, as residents continue to face disruptions to air travel, road closures, and limited communications. The situation underscores the fragile nature of the 2022 peace agreement and the ongoing challenges of rebuilding a war‑torn region.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
