Omanghana
Ethiopian federal troops and allied Tigray Peace Force fighters regained control of Mekelle over the October 3–4 weekend after the Tigray People’s Liberation Front withdrew from the regional capital.
The advance followed the recapture of the city’s main airport and marked a significant setback for the TPLF-led opposition alliance, which launched an offensive against federal forces on September 23.
In a statement released on Saturday, the TPLF acknowledged its withdrawal and said its regional administration would temporarily operate from another location. The group presented the move as an effort to spare Mekelle further destruction.
A source close to the pro-government militia told Reuters that its fighters entered central Mekelle on Saturday afternoon, followed by Ethiopian military personnel.
The city’s recapture did not end the violence elsewhere in Tigray. A humanitarian bulletin cited by Reuters reported that overnight airstrikes killed at least 17 people in Adwa and Sheraro ahead of Monday, October 5. It also described artillery exchanges between federal troops and TPLF-aligned fighters.
The bulletin did not identify who carried out the airstrikes. Reuters said it could not independently verify the reports, and representatives of the government, military and TPLF did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Meanwhile, the federal government is preparing a new interim administration for Tigray, according to the state-run Ethiopian News Agency.
Abraham Belay, a former head of the region’s interim administration, said local government structures would be rebuilt from the community level upwards, with public participation. He said the proposed transition was intended to prepare the region for elections within a few months.
The renewed conflict has placed further strain on the 2022 peace agreement and heightened fears of a wider regional confrontation. Ethiopia has accused Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting the armed opposition, allegations all three countries deny.
Within Mekelle, residents reported shops reopening and telephone and internet services returning after disruptions, even as fighting continued elsewhere in the region.
Source: Omanghana
