Ethiopian rebel forces withdraw from Tigray regional capital

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1. 1h ago

   Ethiopian Federal Forces Take Control of Mekelle After Rebel Withdrawal

   Troops loyal to Ethiopia's federal government control the Tigray regional capital of Mekelle after rebel forces temporarily withdrew from the city. The Tigray People's Liberation Front stated it relocated its fighters to reduce risks to civilians as fighting drew closer. Residents confirmed that pro-government forces are patrolling the streets and mobile phone services have resumed in parts of the city. The renewed violence threatens the fragile 2022 peace agreement that ended a devastating two-year civil war in the region, which an African Union mediator estimated killed about 600,000 people.

   Why it matters

   The capture of Mekelle marks a major escalation in renewed fighting that has spread across the Tigray, Afar, and Amhara regions. The TPLF recently joined six other armed groups in an alliance seeking to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. This conflict unfolds amid worsening relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea, alongside rising tensions with Egypt and Sudan as Ethiopia accuses its neighbours of supporting the rebels.

   What is confirmed

   • Troops loyal to Ethiopia's federal government are patrolling the streets of Mekelle after the Tigray People's Liberation Front withdrew its forces from the city.
   • Residents in Mekelle confirmed that pro-government forces took control of the city and that mobile phone services have resumed in parts of it.
   • Federal troops and allied fighters captured the main regional airport in Mekelle.
   • The TPLF stated it temporarily relocated its fighters from the regional capital to reduce risks to civilians as fighting moved closer.
   • The renewed violence threatens the fragile 2022 peace agreement that ended a two-year civil war in Tigray, which an African Union mediator estimated killed about 600,000 people.
   • The TPLF recently joined six other armed groups in an alliance seeking to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Airstrikes and artillery hit northern Ethiopia following the fall of the Tigray capital.

   What to watch next

   • Further movements of federal forces outside Mekelle and the stability of the 2022 peace agreement
   • Responses from regional rivals in Egypt and Sudan regarding the wider conflict
   • Developments concerning humanitarian operations amid the deteriorating security situation
   Sources used for this update (25)

   1. The Economist — Analysing Africa newsletter: The war everyone saw coming
   2. en.wikipedia.org — Ethiopia - Wikipedia
   3. Reuters — Ethiopian forces near Tigray capital, fears grow of wider conflict
   4. The New York Times — What to Know About Fighting Between Ethiopia and Rebels in Tigray
   5. Al Jazeera — Ethiopia’s government forces retake airport from Tigray rebels in Mekelle
   6. www.ethiopianairlines.com — Fly Ethiopian | Book now for exceptional services | Ethiopian ...
   7. The Washington Post — Fighting in Ethiopia threatens to spill into conflicts in Horn of Africa and beyond
   8. AP News — Ethiopian federal forces retake Mekelle airport from Tigrayan fighters, residents say
   9. Reuters — Government forces seize capital of Ethiopia's Tigray region from rebels
   10. bbc.com — Ethiopian rebel forces withdraw from Tigray regional capital
   11. www.bbc.co.uk — Ethiopian rebel forces withdraw from Tigray regional capital - BBC News
   12. AP News — Ethiopia’s government retakes Mekelle after opposition fighters withdraw from Tigray capital
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