Omanghana
Drone strikes and ground fighting have continued in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region as residents of Mekelle cautiously resume daily activities following the withdrawal of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
Ermiyas Ababu, a commander of the pro-government Tigray Peace Force, said on Tuesday, October 6, that his fighters were working with the Ethiopian National Defense Force to expand their territorial control and pursue opposing forces.
Federal troops and allied fighters reportedly took control of Mekelle on Sunday. Military operations have since continued outside the regional capital, raising concerns about the future of the peace agreement reached in late 2022.
Reports from northern Tigray indicate that overnight strikes in Adwa and Sheraro killed at least 17 people. A separate drone strike on a displacement camp over the weekend reportedly killed at least eight civilians. The reported tolls could not be independently established from the information available, and it was unclear whether they overlapped.
Heavy artillery exchanges were also reported along the Tekeze River, underscoring the continuing instability beyond Mekelle.
Within the city, markets have begun reopening and pedestrians have returned to the streets. Three-wheeled taxis, locally known as bajajs, have also resumed operations, allowing residents to move around as commercial activity gradually restarts.
However, shortages of cash and food supplies continue to constrain daily life. Residents say the goods available in markets remain largely limited to essential items.
Federal soldiers and Tigray Peace Force personnel are patrolling neighborhoods, enforcing a curfew and seeking to prevent looting.
The renewed fighting has also deepened tensions between Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea. Ethiopian authorities have accused Eritrea of backing the TPLF, an allegation Eritrea denies. Eritrean officials have countered that Ethiopia is attempting to blame an external actor for its domestic problems.
Reports of a diplomatic rupture, including the expulsion of Ethiopian diplomats, have added to concerns that the conflict could further destabilize the Horn of Africa.
For residents of Mekelle, the return of transport and trading offers limited relief, while continued fighting elsewhere in Tigray leaves the region’s recovery uncertain.
Source: Omanghana
