Ethiopian Federal Forces Retake Mekelle From TPLF
Ethiopian federal troops and allied militia took control of Mekelle, the capital of Tigray region, on Saturday after recapturing Alula Aba Nega Airport from TPLF fighters. The TPLF stated it had "temporarily moved out" of the city, though residents expressed concern about potential looting. Severe disruptions to communications have made independent verification of events difficult.
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Ethiopian federal forces and allied fighters captured Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region, on Saturday following the recapture of Alula Aba Nega Airport earlier that day. The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) had seized the airport on September 23, leading Ethiopian Airlines to suspend flights to Mekelle and the cities of Axum and Shire.
An Ethiopian general confirmed military control of the airport, though neither the federal government nor the TPLF released an official statement about its capture. According to Reuters, the pro-government Tigray Peace Forces entered the city centre on Saturday afternoon, followed by the Ethiopian military. Both a humanitarian source and a Mekelle resident subsequently confirmed to Reuters that government forces controlled the city.
The TPLF responded late Saturday with a statement saying it had "temporarily moved out of Mekelle" to "operate from somewhere else." Severe disruptions to internet and telephone networks throughout Tigray have made independent verification of events extremely difficult. An Associated Press contributor in the city reported that residents feared looting amid the ongoing uncertainty about control. The African Union had previously urged restraint, warning that the escalation risked undermining the 2022 peace agreement that had ended the previous Tigray war.
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