TPLF withdraws from Mekelle as Ethiopian forces take control
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
The Tigray People's Liberation Front said it temporarily withdrew from Mekelle, the regional capital of Tigray, citing risks to civilians. Two residents told the BBC that pro-government forces now control the city and TPLF fighters have left. The move marks a major shift in the conflict even as the US called for restraint ahead of a diplomatic meeting in Egypt.
Key Facts
- The TPLF said it temporarily withdrew from Mekelle because of concerns about risks to civilians.
- Two residents in Mekelle told the BBC that pro-government forces now control the city and TPLF forces have abandoned it.
- The US Department of State called for restraint and dialogue ahead of a diplomatic meeting in Egypt on Sunday.
- Last month, the TPLF joined six other armed movements, including the Fano militia from Amhara, to form an alliance seeking to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government.
- The AU mediator estimated some 600,000 people died during the two-year civil war that ended in 2022.
Withdrawal from Mekelle
The Tigray People's Liberation Front announced a temporary withdrawal from Mekelle, the regional capital of Tigray, citing risks to civilians. Two residents told the BBC that pro-government forces now control the city and TPLF fighters have left. One resident said mobile phone services appear to have resumed in parts of the city. The development marks a major shift in the conflict and raises concerns that fighting could further destabilise the Horn of Africa.
Regional and International Response
The US Department of State called for restraint and dialogue on all sides ahead of a diplomatic meeting in Egypt on Sunday with leaders from some of Ethiopia's neighbours. On Friday, Ethiopia and Eritrea severed diplomatic relations after Addis Ababa accused Asmara of supporting a new rebel alliance, an allegation Eritrea denied. Ethiopia also accused Egypt of supporting the rebels, leading to the expulsion of an Egyptian diplomat, and Cairo responded by ordering an Ethiopian embassy official to leave. The United Nations warned that the deteriorating security situation in northern Ethiopia is severely disrupting humanitarian work and called for safe and unhindered access to people in need.
Conflict Background
Tigray residents have been trying to recover from a two-year civil war that ended in 2022 when the African Union brokered the Pretoria Agreement. In the last six months relations have worsened, with both sides accusing each other of violating the agreement. Last month, the TPLF joined six other armed movements, including the Fano militia from Amhara, to form an alliance whose stated objective is to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government from power. The AU's mediator estimated some 600,000 people died during the civil war as fighting drove the region to the precipice of famine.
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