Ethiopian federal forces have taken control of Mekelle, the capital of the northern Tigray region, as renewed fighting raises fears of a wider conflict.
Federal troops were patrolling the city and controlling key institutions on Sunday, according to a local journalist who spoke to AFP.
The development follows renewed fighting between federal forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which began on September 23.
Ethiopian forces enter Mekelle
Federal forces entered Mekelle on Saturday after TPLF leaders and fighters withdrew from the city, AFP reported.
The news comes a day after federal forces were reported to have retaken Alula Aba Nega Airport in Mekelle.
By Sunday, troops were visible across the regional capital.
“We have taken control of Mekelle and we are marching forward,” a commander from a pro-government militia told AFP.
Communications were also restored after being disrupted for more than a week.
However, businesses and shops remained closed. Residents said some owners had moved their goods because they feared looting.
One resident told AFP that local people had organised their own security because police were not present.
Residents fear conflict could continue
Some residents expressed relief that fighting in Mekelle appeared to have eased.
However, concerns remain that the conflict could continue elsewhere in Tigray.
“The fact that the war is beginning to lower in intensity brings some immediate relief,” one resident, identified as Tewodros, told AFP.
“But as seems to be spreading across the region, I’m scared it will drag on,” he added.
TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael indicated that his forces could continue attacks despite losing control of Mekelle.
“We operate under a strategy to strike the enemy wherever we choose,” he said.
Regional leaders call for peaceful solutions
The latest developments in Mekelle come amid growing concern about regional tensions.
The presidents of Egypt, Somalia and Eritrea met in El-Alamein on Sunday alongside Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
According to the Egyptian presidency, the leaders called for regional disputes to be resolved through peaceful means. They also stressed respect for international law and non-interference.
Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of supporting Tigrayan forces. It has also alleged support from Egypt and Sudan. All three countries have denied the accusations.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Cairo had “absolutely nothing to do” with the conflict. He described Ethiopia’s unrest as a domestic crisis.
Fears of wider Tigray conflict remain
Tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea have also increased.
Eritrea has accused Ethiopia of seeking access to its coastline. Ethiopia has faced separate tensions with Egypt over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
The renewed fighting has raised concerns about the future of the 2022 Pretoria Peace Agreement.
That agreement ended the previous Tigray war, although several parts were never fully implemented.
The African Union has estimated that more than 600,000 people died during the 2020-2022 conflict.
Despite the federal takeover of Mekelle, statements from TPLF leaders indicate that fighting may not be over.