Ethiopia’s forces retake Mekelle amid renewed Tigray fighting

What the report says

Ethiopian federal forces and allied fighters have taken control of Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, after the Tigray People’s Liberation Front said it had withdrawn from the city. Al Jazeera reported that the move has reignited fears of a wider and prolonged conflict in northern Ethiopia, where residents remember the devastation of the 2020-22 war.

The report said the takeover followed renewed fighting in Tigray and came less than four years after the Pretoria agreement, mediated by the African Union, ended the last major phase of the conflict. That earlier war caused mass displacement and extensive damage, and key issues in the peace deal, including disputed territory, the return of displaced people and the disarmament of Tigrayan forces, remained unsettled. The TPLF has argued the agreement effectively collapsed, while the federal government has said it remains committed to the peace process.

Beyond Tigray, the escalation has raised alarm in Addis Ababa after reports of explosions in the capital and claims of drone strikes that could not be independently verified. The reporting also noted rising tensions with Eritrea, including diplomatic expulsions and the closure of embassies, adding to concern that the conflict could broaden regionally.

For civilians in Mekelle and elsewhere, the immediate worry is renewed displacement and economic hardship. Local residents quoted by Al Jazeera described uncertainty in the city after the TPLF’s withdrawal, while federal officials said they were preparing a new interim administration and eventual regional elections.