Ethiopian government forces took over Mekele on October 03, 2026. The TPLF had announced its withdrawal from the capital of the Tigray. This new escalation revives fears of a resumption of the conflict.
Mekele was returned to the control of the Allied forces of the Ethiopian government. The capital of Tigray had recently been taken over by the Liberation Front of the People of Tigray. The TPLF then announced its withdrawal. The movement claims to have left the city to avoid further destruction. Pro-government forces were then seen in several neighborhoods. Mekele airport had already come under federal control.
The specter of a new conflict
This new sequence comes after several days of fighting. The TPLF launched an offensive on September 23. Several strategic positions had then fallen under his control. Residents also reported looting after the fighters withdrew. Communications remain disrupted in some areas. The escalation raises fears of a return to the violence that had devastated the Tigré between 2020 and 2022. The African Union calls for restraint and dialogue.
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