In a swift turn of events, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has announced that it has temporarily pulled its forces out of Ethiopia’s northern regional capital, Mekelle, as the federal army’s advance brings the front lines closer.
Officials said the decision was driven by the need to protect civilians from the looming clash, hoping to avert a surge in civilian casualties that could tip the city into chaos.
Local witnesses in Mekelle describe a city now controlled by pro‑government troops, noting that mobile phone networks have begun to resume operation in parts of the area.
Experts warn that the TPLF’s withdrawal could signal a new chapter in the stalled conflict that has gripped the region since 2020, raising alarms that violence could spill into other northern states and embolden neighbouring countries to get drawn in.
Shortly before a diplomatic meeting in Cairo, the U.S. Department of State issued a statement calling for restraint and dialogue among all parties, highlighting the risk of the crisis spreading beyond Ethiopia’s borders.
The fighting began after the TPLF broke the Pretoria Agreement that ended a devastating war in 2022, and has since involved a coalition of armed groups, including the Fano militia, rallying against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government.
