Ethiopian Forces Take Full Control Of Tigray Capital

Ethiopian federal forces have taken full control of Mekelle, the capital of the northern Tigray region, after Tigrayan forces abandoned the city.

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) launched attacks against federal forces on September 23, raising fears of a return to the civil war that devastated the region between 2020 and 2022.

Federal troops entered Mekelle on Saturday without a fight after advancing deep into territory previously held by Tigrayan forces. The journalist said federal soldiers were patrolling the city and had taken positions at key institutions on Sunday.

Communications were also restored in Mekelle for the first time in more than a week. A pro-government militia commander told AFP that government forces had taken control of the city and were continuing their advance.

Businesses and shops remained closed, with some owners moving their stock to safer locations in anticipation of possible looting and vandalism.

The developments came as the presidents of Egypt, Somalia, Sudan and Eritrea were due to meet in the Egyptian city of Alamein on Sunday to discuss the conflict and wider regional developments.

Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of directly supporting the Tigrayan rebels, an allegation rejected by Asmara.

The TPLF ruled Ethiopia from 1991 until 2018, when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power. The political tensions later contributed to the outbreak of war in Tigray in 2020.

The conflict ended with the Pretoria peace agreement in 2022 after an estimated 600,000 people were killed, according to the African Union. The agreement, brokered by African institutions and the United States, helped halt the fighting until tensions escalated again.

SOURCE: AFP