Ethiopia Retakes Tigray Capital

Ethiopian federal forces and allied fighters have retaken Mekelle, the regional capital of Tigray, amid renewed fighting in the region. The Tigray People's Liberation Front confirmed its withdrawal from the city, saying its regional administration would operate from another location.

The development comes less than four years after the Ethiopian government and the TPLF signed the Pretoria agreement, which ended two years of devastating fighting. However, key issues such as the status of disputed territories and the return of displaced people remained unresolved.

Berihu, a 32-year-old resident of Shire, said the latest fighting had been difficult to watch. He expressed concerns about the potential for another prolonged conflict, displacement, and economic hardship.

The 2020-2022 war killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions. The African Union-facilitated agreement was meant to bring peace, but the TPLF accused the federal government of failing to implement key provisions.

The capture of Mekelle marks a major development in the renewed conflict. The city is once again at the center of the fighting, and residents fear a return to violence, displacement, and economic hardship.

The US Department of State has called for restraint and dialogue on all sides. The presidents of Egypt, Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan met to discuss the conflict, calling for the resolution of disputes through peaceful means.

Ethiopia accuses its neighbors of supporting the Tigray rebels, which they deny. The situation remains volatile, with the potential for further destabilization in the Horn of Africa.