Ethiopian government forces announced that they have regained control of Alowala Aba Naga airport in Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, which had been captured by rebel groups last week. This development comes during the worst period of violence in northern Ethiopia since the end of the civil war in 2022.
Control of Mekelle airport
Ethiopian government sources told several news agencies that federal forces now dominate Mekelle airport. An Ethiopian general confirmed in an interview with the media that "military forces have full control of the airport." Meanwhile, the AFP news agency reported, citing a humanitarian source, that rebel groups are leaving the city of Mekelle.
Read more: Frank Estrada, Tennessee Reform Commissioner, resigned after the botched execution of Krista Pike
Consequences of leaving Mekelle
Leaving the capital of Tigray is considered a setback for the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which has recently allied with several other armed groups in northern Ethiopia. The TPLF has acted as the dominant force in Tigray since the ousting of the appointed government earlier this year, appointing Debretsion Gebremichael, the former war leader, as the regional head.
The Ethiopian National Defense Forces have been fighting a renewed rebel offensive since late September. The TPLF previously took control of Mekelle airport on September 23 and began its attacks on government positions in the neighboring Afar and Amhara regions. This week, government forces managed to push the group back.
Debretsion Gebremichael issued a statement on Thursday promising to continue guerrilla attacks against government forces, similar to what happened when they lost control of Mekelle in 2020.
The Tigray People's Liberation Front, which ruled Ethiopia from 1991 to 2018, seeks to overthrow Abiy Ahmed's government. The civil war from 2020 to 2022 resulted in the deaths of over 600,000 people.
Recent unrest in northern Ethiopia has raised concerns in the region and has sparked fears of wider conflicts in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia has accused its northern neighbor Eritrea of supporting the Tigrayan rebels for years, and Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt have all denied these allegations.
Last week, Ethiopia and Eritrea severed diplomatic relations, with both countries expelling each other's diplomats and closing their embassies. The African Union has expressed concern over the rising tensions between Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Egypt, urging all parties to exercise maximum caution.
Debretsion stated in a video message that "this war is a regional war and a war for control of the Red Sea." These tensions could have serious consequences for regional stability.
Read more: Trump visited Ohio and continued his campaign · Chad: We do not support Sudanese rebels
