Ethiopia’s government forces retake Mekelle from Tigray rebels

ADDIS ABABA (Somaliguardian) – 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.