Ethiopian Government Forces Retake Mekelle as TPLF Withdraws from Tigray Capital

MEKELLE, Ethiopia — Ethiopian government forces and allied militias have regained control of Mekelle, the capital of the northern Tigray region, after the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) said its fighters had withdrawn from the city, three sources told Reuters on Sunday.

FAKTA

• What happened: Ethiopian federal forces and allied fighters took control of Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region.
• When: Pro-government fighters entered the city centre on Saturday afternoon, followed by the Ethiopian military; the takeover was confirmed by three sources to Reuters on Sunday, 4 October 2026.
• Who withdrew: The TPLF, which leads the opposition alliance, said in a statement posted on Facebook that it had retreated from the capital and that the regional government would be “temporarily moved out of Mekelle and operate from somewhere else.”
• How it unfolded: The TPLF-led alliance launched a major offensive against the Ethiopian military on 23 September; federal forces mounted a rapid counterattack, retaking the city’s airport before advancing into the capital itself.
• Why it matters: The loss of Mekelle is a major blow to the opposition alliance and marks the worst escalation since Ethiopia’s 2020–2022 civil war — one of the deadliest conflicts this century, in which an African Union mediator estimated some 600,000 people were killed.
• Regional dimension: Addis Ababa severed diplomatic ties with Eritrea last week, accusing Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting the rebel alliance; all three countries deny the allegations.

TPLF withdraws from Mekelle

The TPLF, which leads the opposition alliance that rules the northern region, announced its retreat in a statement posted on Facebook. The group said the regional government would be moved out of Mekelle and operate from elsewhere for the time being.

A source close to the pro-government militia, the Tigray Peace Forces, told Reuters that its fighters entered the centre of Mekelle on Saturday afternoon, followed by the Ethiopian military. A humanitarian source and a Mekelle resident, who asked not to be named, confirmed that the city was controlled by government forces.

The prime minister’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Two residents in Mekelle separately told the BBC that pro-government forces had taken control of the city.

Mekelle under government control after rapid counterattack

Ethiopian federal forces and allied fighters made a quick counterattack into Tigray after the TPLF-led alliance’s large offensive of 23 September, retaking the main airport serving Mekelle before pushing into the capital itself.

The taking of Mekelle is a major loss for the opposition alliance, which had seized the initiative with its September offensive. Analysts warn that the fighting — the worst escalation since the 2020–2022 civil war — threatens to widen into a broader regional conflict.

Regional tensions deepen

The crisis has already spilled across borders. The federal government in Addis Ababa severed diplomatic ties with Eritrea last week, accusing it of supporting the rebel alliance alongside Sudan and Egypt. All three countries deny the allegations.

The United States has urged both Ethiopia and Eritrea to exercise maximum restraint and return to dialogue, warning that the Horn of Africa cannot sustain another military conflict and humanitarian crisis. For more international coverage, see Watan News’ world news section.