Ethiopian Federal Forces Take Control of Tigray's Mekelle

Ethiopian federal troops, supported by allied fighters, regained control of Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, on October 4. This development is a significant setback for the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF)-led opposition alliance, which announced its withdrawal from the city.

The regional government plans to temporarily relocate and operate from another location. A source close to the pro-government Tigray Peace Forces confirmed that their fighters entered central Mekelle, followed by federal troops.

The Ethiopian Prime Minister’s Office did not respond to requests for comment. The loss of Mekelle is a major blow to the TPLF-led alliance, which had launched a major offensive against federal forces on September 23.

Analysts describe the renewed fighting as the worst escalation since the 2020–2022 civil war, raising concerns about a potential wider regional conflict. The Ethiopian government severed diplomatic ties with Eritrea last week, accusing it of supporting the TPLF-led alliance, which Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt have denied.