In brief
The TPLF has withdrawn its forces from Mekelle, citing concerns for civilian safety as federal troops advance. Local residents report the city is now under pro‑government control and that mobile phone service has resumed. The abrupt shift signals a turning point in a conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands and threatens to destabilise the Horn of Africa. International actors, including the U.S. and the African Union, are calling for restraint and dialogue as diplomatic talks are scheduled in Egypt.
Tigrayan rebel forces pull out of Mekelle as federal troops take control
In a sudden turn, the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front (TPLF) announced it had withdrawn its forces from Mekelle, the capital of Ethiopia's northern Tigray region.
The move was reportedly made to protect civilians as fighting with the Ethiopian national army intensified on the city’s outskirts.
Residents report that pro‑government troops now hold the city and that mobile phones have begun working again in parts of Mekelle.
The development marks a major shift in a war that has claimed up to 600,000 lives and could trigger wider regional instability. Diplomats in Cairo are set to meet with leaders from neighbouring states, while the U.S. Department of State has urged all sides to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue.
