Ethiopian government forces regain control of Tigray capital
Ethiopian government forces and allied militias have reclaimed the regional capital of Mekelle. Reports indicate that Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) rebels abandoned the city as government forces advanced.
First reported 1 day ago · latest update 1 hour ago
Oct 4 - Ethiopian government forces and allied militias have regained control of the capital of Tigray, three sources told Reuters on Sunday, dealing a major setback to the opposition alliance that rules the northern region.
The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which leads the opposition alliance, said in a statement posted on Facebook it had retreated from the capital and that the regional government would be "temporarily moved out of Mekelle and operate from somewhere else."
A source close to the pro-government militia, the Tigray Peace Forces, said its fighters entered the centre of Mekelle on Saturday afternoon, followed by the Ethiopian military. A humanitarian source and a Mekelle resident, who asked not to be named, confirmed the city was controlled by government forces.
The prime minister's office did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
LOSS OF MEKELLE A MAJOR BLOW FOR TPLF
The taking of Mekelle by pro-government forces is a major loss for the opposition alliance led by the TPLF, which launched a big offensive on September 23 against the Ethiopian military.
Ethiopian federal forces and allied fighters have made a quick counterattack into Tigray, but analysts say the fighting — the worst escalation since a 2020-2022 civil war — threatens to escalate into a wider regional conflict.
The federal government in Addis Ababa severed diplomatic ties with Eritrea last week, accusing it of supporting the rebel alliance alongside Sudan and Egypt. The three countries deny this. REUTERS
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Government forces seize capital of Ethiopia's Tigray region from rebels
Oct 4 - Ethiopian government forces and allied militias have regained control of the capital of Tigray, three sources told Reuters on Sunday, dealing a major setback to the opposition alliance that rules the northern region.
1 hour agoEthiopia's Tigray rebels abandon regional capital of Mekelle as pro-government forces advance
Rebels from the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) in Ethiopia were abandoning their regional capital of Mekkele in the north of the country on Saturday, a local journalist and residents told AFP. The TPLF has been fighting against federal forces and pro-government militias since September 23 and launching attacks into neighbouring states, raising fears of an all-out civil war similar to that of 2020-2022.
1 day ago · FRANCE 24