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Ethiopian federal forces and allied militias entered Mekelle on Saturday without resistance, establishing full control over the Tigray regional capital by Sunday following a swift counter-offensive.
Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) leaders and troops abandoned the city, prompting federal troops to patrol streets and secure key institutions.
“We have taken control of Mekelle, and we are marching forward,” confirmed a pro-government militia commander.
Residents reported that businesses were closed and community-led security patrols were active during the transition.
“The fact that the war is beginning to lower in intensity brings some immediate relief,” stated resident Tewodros, while adding, “But as it seems to be spreading across the region, I’m scared it will drag on.”
TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael signalled an ongoing insurgent response to the government’s advance.
“We operate under a strategy to strike the enemy wherever we choose,” Debretsion warned, indicating the group will revert to guerrilla tactics.
Read More : Why Renewed Tigray War Risks Regional Conflict
Meanwhile, the escalation follows renewed clashes that erupted on September 23, raising international alarms that the fighting could reignite a broader conflict across the Horn of Africa.
Amid allegations that Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt are backing the Tigray rebels—claims all three nations deny—regional leaders gathered in Alamein, Egypt, for a mini-summit to manage growing spillovers.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi urged “dialogue, not confrontation” during his address at the African Union coordination summit, emphasising that cross-border challenges “require cooperation, not competition, and dialogue, not confrontation” regarding natural resources and regional stability.
