Government forces seize capital of Ethiopia’s Tigray region from rebels

Oct 4 (Reuters) – Ethiopian government forces and allied militias have regained control of the capital of Tigray, three sources told Reuters on Sunday, dealing a major setback to the opposition alliance that rules the northern region.

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which leads the opposition alliance, said in a statement posted on Facebook it had retreated from the capital and 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 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 the city was controlled by government forces.

The prime minister’s office did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

LOSS OF MEKELLE A MAJOR BLOW FOR TPLF

The taking of Mekelle by pro-government forces is a major loss for the opposition alliance led by the TPLF, which launched a big offensive on September 23 against the Ethiopian military.

Ethiopian federal forces and allied fighters have made a quick counterattack into Tigray, but analysts say the fighting — the worst escalation since a 2020-2022 civil war — threatens to escalate into a wider regional conflict.

The federal government in Addis Ababa severed diplomatic ties with Eritrea last week, accusing it of supporting the rebel alliance alongside Sudan and Egypt. The three countries deny this.

(Reporting by Ammu Kannampillay; Editing by Silvia Aloisi and Helen Popper)

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