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Fighting resumes in Ethiopia’s Tigray as federal forces enter Mekelle and TPLF pulls back
Ethiopian federal forces entered Mekelle less than two weeks after clashes with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front restarted, as the TPLF described its withdrawal from the capital and other towns as strategic.
Fighting has broken out again in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region, where federal forces have entered the regional capital Mekelle less than two weeks after clashes with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) resumed in late September.
Reports from the area say the national army moved into Mekelle after the TPLF withdrew. The TPLF calls its departure from the city and other main towns a strategic withdrawal, framing it as a choice to avoid direct urban confrontation rather than a straightforward defeat.
This flare‑up comes after a 2022 agreement that ended a two‑year civil war. That deal was meant to halt major combat, reintegrate Tigrayan fighters into national structures, and restore federal services, but the return of open fighting shows key disputes remained unresolved.
Residents reached indirectly describe tension and uncertainty as they adjust to federal troops back in Mekelle and worry about what renewed conflict means for daily life. During the previous war, civilians in Tigray endured severe hardship and restrictions.
The current clashes risk once again disrupting aid deliveries, movement between towns, and access to basic services at a time when humanitarian agencies are already stretched.
Beyond Tigray, renewed fighting is a concern for a Horn of Africa region grappling with other crises. Ethiopia is a major regional player and instability there can spill across borders, trigger new displacement, and complicate security cooperation.
Key developments to watch include whether combat spreads beyond current fronts, how quickly humanitarian access is restricted or restored, and whether mediators such as the African Union can reopen talks before the situation hardens into a prolonged new phase of war.