Key facts
- Ethiopian government forces and allied militias seized control of Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region.
- The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) confirmed its retreat from Mekelle.
- The TPLF stated the regional government would operate from outside Mekelle.
- The Ethiopian federal government accused Eritrea of supporting the rebel alliance.
Ethiopian government forces and allied militias have regained control of Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region, according to three sources speaking to Reuters on Sunday. This development represents a major setback for the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which leads the opposition alliance ruling the northern region.
The TPLF confirmed its retreat from Mekelle, stating in a Facebook post that the regional government would be "temporarily moved out of Mekelle and operate from somewhere else." A source close to the pro-government militia, the Tigray Peace Forces, said its fighters entered the city center on Saturday afternoon, followed by the Ethiopian military. A humanitarian source and a resident of Mekelle corroborated that government forces controlled the city.