Ethiopian forces retake Tigray capital as Eritrean involvement raises war concerns

Ethiopian federal troops and allied militia entered Mekelle, the capital of the northern Tigray region, after the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) withdrew following nearly two weeks of fighting that broke out on 23 September. During the advance, a drone strike on a displacement camp in Sheraro killed at least eight civilians, including a child, raising fears about a return to the devastating 2020-2022 civil war. Ethiopia's parliament reelected Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for a new five-year term, whilst his government accused Eritrea of backing a newly formed armed group and severed diplomatic ties with Asmara.

Tensions intensified when witnesses reported seeing Eritrean soldiers in distinctive uniforms in the Tigrayan town of Adigrat, representing the first confirmed sighting of Eritrean troops operating inside Ethiopian territory since fighting resumed. A commander of the pro-government Tigray Peace Force militia confirmed that Eritrean forces had entered with heavy weaponry. Eritrea's information minister did not deny that troops had crossed the border but accused Ethiopia of creating a pretext for war.

Ethiopian forces and allied militia subsequently retook Adigrat after Eritrean troops withdrew, with residents celebrating in the streets. Eritrea formally denied conducting any incursion and sent a letter to the UN Security Council describing Ethiopia's accusations as constituting a declaration of war, invoking Chapter VII of the UN Charter and requesting international intervention. The escalating tensions leave the Horn of Africa under strain, with analysts warning that further military engagement could lead to full-scale confrontation between both countries.