Ethiopia.. Tigray rebels evacuate Mekelle and government-aligned forces take control of its airport

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Today, Saturday, fighters and leaders of the "Tigray People's Liberation Front" evacuated the city of Mekelle, the capital of the region located in northern Ethiopia, as federal forces and their allied groups advanced. Meanwhile, an armed group loyal to the government announced the restoration of control over the main airport in the city.

A local journalist told the French news agency that the fighters and leaders of the front are "leaving Mekelle," adding that government offices and police stations have become empty of security personnel, while government forces had not yet been seen inside the city.

The absence of security forces raised concerns among residents about the deterioration of the security situation. One resident of Mekelle expressed anxiety over the possibility of government and public properties being looted, while another voiced fears of "chaos spreading in the city," calling for a swift return to law and order.

In a related field development, the "Tigray Peace Forces," supported by the federal government, announced that they had regained control of the Alula Aba Nega Airport, the main airport in the capital of the region.

The group added in a post on the "X" platform late Friday: "We have taken complete control of Mekelle Alula Aba Nega Airport. We are currently working to clear the city of Mekelle.",

These developments come after violent clashes have been witnessed in northern Ethiopia since September 23, following attacks launched by the "Tigray People's Liberation Front" on the Afar and Amhara regions. Federal forces and government-aligned groups managed to repel the attacks and launched a counter-offensive, advancing north towards Mekelle.

Controlling Mekelle would represent a significant setback for the opposition coalition led by the "Tigray People's Liberation Front", amid an escalation that is considered the most dangerous since the civil war that took place in northern Ethiopia between 2020 and 2022, which resulted in the deaths of around 600,000 people.

The renewed fighting raises fears of Ethiopia slipping back into a wider conflict, while analysts warn that the current confrontations could expand into a larger regional dispute.