Ethiopia controls Tigray capital as regional rivals meet in Egypt

Government forces and allied militias have reclaimed control of Mekelle, the capital of Ethiopia's Tigray region, from rebel fighters, according to multiple sources. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which leads the opposition alliance ruling the northern region, stated in a Facebook post that it had withdrawn from the city and that the regional government would temporarily relocate.

A source familiar with the pro-government militia, the Tigray Peace Forces, reported that its fighters entered the city center on Saturday afternoon, followed by the Ethiopian military. Both a humanitarian source and a resident of Mekelle confirmed that government forces now control the city. The prime minister's office has not yet commented on the development.

The seizure of Mekelle represents a significant loss for the opposition alliance, which launched an offensive on September 23 against Ethiopian military forces. Analysts warn that the fighting, the most intense since a civil war in 2020-2022, could escalate into a broader regional conflict. In a related development, the Ethiopian federal government severed diplomatic ties with Eritrea last week, alleging Eritrea's support for the rebel alliance in conjunction with Sudan and Egypt.