Ethiopia.. Tigray rebels evacuate Mekele and pro-government forces control its airport

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On Saturday, fighters and leaders of the Tigray People's Liberation Front evacuated the city of Mekelle, the capital of the region located in northern Ethiopia, as federal forces and allied groups advanced, while a pro-government armed group announced it had regained control of the main airport in the city.

A local journalist told Agence France-Presse that the Front's fighters and leaders were "leaving Mekelle," adding that government offices and police stations had become empty of security personnel, at a time when government forces had not yet been seen inside the city.

The absence of security forces raised fears among residents about the deterioration of the security situation. A Mekelle resident said he was concerned about the possibility of government and public property being looted, while another expressed his fear of "the spread of chaos in the city," demanding a quick return to law and order.

In a related development on the ground, the “Tigray Peace Forces” group supported by the federal government said that it had regained control of Mekelle Alola Aba Nega Airport, the main airport in the regional capital.

The group added in a post on the “X” platform late Friday: “We have imposed complete control over Mekele Alola Aba Nega Airport. We are currently working to comb the city of Mekele.”

These developments come after violent clashes in northern Ethiopia since September 23, following attacks launched by the Tigray People's Liberation Front on the Afar and Amhara regions. Federal forces and pro-government groups were able to repel the attacks, launch a counterattack and advance north towards Mekelle.

Controlling Mekelle will represent a major setback for the opposition coalition led by the Tigray People's Liberation Front, in light of the escalation that is considered the most dangerous since the civil war that northern Ethiopia witnessed between 2020 and 2022, which claimed the lives of about 600,000 people.

The renewed fighting raises fears that Ethiopia will slide again into a widespread conflict, while analysts warn that the current confrontations may expand into a larger regional conflict.