Ethiopian government retakes capital of Tigray region as fight against rebels continues

Ethiopian government forces and allied militias have retook the capital city of Mekelle in the Tigray region, according to multiple sources on Sunday. This significant victory dealt a major blow to the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the opposition alliance that governs the northern region. The TPLF stated on Facebook that it had retreated from the capital and would temporarily relocate the regional government from Mekelle to another location.

A source familiar with the pro-government militia, the Tigray Peace Forces, reported that their fighters entered the city center of Mekelle on Saturday afternoon, followed by the Ethiopian military. This information was corroborated by a humanitarian source and a local resident in Mekelle, who preferred to remain anonymous. The city is now under the control of government forces.

The Prime Minister's office has not yet commented on the situation. The Tigray offensive launched by the opposition alliance on September 23 against the Ethiopian military proved unsuccessful. Despite the federal forces and allied fighters making a swift counterattack into Tigray, analysts warn that the fighting, the most severe escalation since the 2020-2022 civil war, could potentially escalate into a broader regional conflict.

Last week, the Ethiopian federal government severed diplomatic ties with Eritrea, accusing it of supporting the rebel alliance alongside Sudan and Egypt. All three countries deny these allegations.