Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The capture of Tigray’s regional capital Mekelle by Ethiopian federal forces and allied Tigray Peace Force fighters has revived painful memories of the 2020–22 Tigray war, with residents fearing a return to prolonged violence, displacement and economic hardship. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) confirmed on Saturday that it had withdrawn from Mekelle, saying its regional administration would temporarily operate from another location. Government forces and allied fighters entered the city on Saturday, with a pro-government militia source, a humanitarian worker and a Mekelle resident confirming to the news agency on Sunday that they were in control of the city.
The development comes less than four years after the Ethiopian government and the TPLF signed the Pretoria agreement that ended two years of devastating fighting. Berihu, a 32-year-old bajaj driver in Shire, northwestern Tigray, said the latest fighting had been particularly difficult to watch. The African Union-facilitated agreement, signed in Pretoria in November 2022, ended the large-scale fighting, but key issues, including the status of disputed territories, the return of displaced people and the disarmament of Tigrayan forces, remained unresolved.
In July, the TPLF said the Pretoria agreement had effectively collapsed, accusing the federal government of failing to implement key provisions. The federal government rejected that characterisation, saying it remained committed to the peace process while accusing the TPLF of undermining the agreement. The political dispute was accompanied by growing military tensions, including reports of sporadic clashes and drone strikes in parts of Tigray.
The two sides also traded accusations over troop movements and preparations for renewed fighting. The capture of Mekelle marks a major development in the renewed conflict, putting the city once again at the centre of the fighting. In Addis Ababa, the developments have also alarmed residents who remember the consequences of the previous war.
Abel, a 30-year-old shopkeeper, said the fighting had felt distant until explosions were heard in the capital. But when you hear about explosions in Addis Ababa, you start asking yourself what will happen next.” Diplomatic sources said explosions were heard in several parts of the capital, including near the headquarters of Ethiopia’s military. separately reported that a source linked to an opposition alliance claimed the group had carried out drone strikes in Addis Ababa, including against military facilities. The claim could not be independently verified.
For Abel, the economic consequences are as concerning as the fighting itself. Bisrat, a college student in Addis Ababa, said the overnight explosions had reinforced his fear that Ethiopia could be entering a much wider conflict. The current fighting also involves a wider set of actors than the Tigray war that ended in 2022.
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