Yasmin Bilal
Ethiopian federal forces and allied fighters have taken control of Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region, after Tigrayan forces withdrew from the city.
The development comes less than two weeks after renewed fighting erupted in northern Ethiopia, reviving fears of another prolonged conflict in the region.
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) confirmed its withdrawal from Mekelle and said its regional administration would temporarily operate from outside the capital.
Federal and allied forces subsequently moved into the city and took control of key areas, including the airport.
The fighting began on 23 September and is the most serious escalation since the Tigray war ended with a peace agreement in 2022.
The Ethiopian government has since begun preparations for a new interim administration in Tigray, according to the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA).
Abraham Belay, the former president of the Tigray Interim Administration, told ENA that a new administrative structure was being prepared, with regional elections expected within months.
He said the Ethiopian National Defence Force was carrying out operations to remove what he described as illegal armed forces from the region.
Belay’s comments reflect the Ethiopian government’s position and have not been independently verified.
Fighting has continued in other parts of Tigray despite the change in control of Mekelle.
Airstrikes and artillery fire hit areas of the region on Monday. A humanitarian bulletin reported at least 17 deaths northwest of Mekelle, although the figure could not be independently verified.
The renewed conflict has also coincided with worsening relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of supporting forces involved in the conflict, an allegation Eritrea has denied. Addis Ababa announced the closure of its embassy in Asmara on 1 October as tensions between the two countries intensified.
The African Union has called for restraint as concerns grow that the renewed fighting could spread beyond Tigray.
The situation remains fluid, with communications disrupted in parts of the region, making independent verification of developments difficult.