Tigray Rebel Forces Withdraw from Mekelle as Frontline Advances

Sun Oct 04 2026 15:54:24 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The TPLF has temporarily pulled out of Mekelle, ceding control to government troops amid escalating clashes in northern Ethiopia.

In a sudden shift, the Tigray People's Liberation Front announced it was temporarily evacuating its positions in the regional capital of Mekelle as federal troops pressure the city. Residents report that pro‑government forces now hold the streets and that basic services like mobile phones are returning. The move follows a two‑year war that ended with an AU‑brokered peace deal that has been repeatedly broken. Heightened tensions between Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt over alleged support for insurgent groups risk widening the conflict across the Horn of Africa.

Tigray rebel forces pull out of Mekelle

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) said it had temporarily withdrawn from the regional capital of Mekelle as federal soldiers close in. Leadership cited concerns for civilian safety amid the escalating battle.

Local inhabitants confirmed that pro‑government troops now control Mekelle and that the TPLF’s presence has faded. One resident noted that mobile phone service appears to be returning in parts of the city.

War’s broader context

The fighting is part of a broader conflict that began in 2020 and ended with an AU‑mediated Pretoria Agreement in 2022, though both sides have since accused each other of breaching it.

Last month the TPLF joined forces with six other armed groups, including the Amhara Fano militia, to form an alliance aiming to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government from power. The coalition’s actions have drawn international attention, as the war ranks among the deadliest of the century.

Regional implications

The front’s movement into Mekelle raises alarms that the conflict could spread, potentially pulling in neighbouring Eritrea, Egypt and other Horn of Africa states.

The US Department of State has called for restraint and dialogue, warning that a wider security crisis could disrupt humanitarian efforts in the region.