TPLF forces leave Mekelle as Ethiopian army advances
Tigray rebel forces say they have temporarily withdrawn from Mekelle, the regional capital, as fighting with Ethiopia’s national army approaches. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front said it moved its forces because of concerns for civilians; residents told the BBC that pro-government forces now control the city.
The withdrawal marks a major shift in renewed fighting across Tigray, Afar and Amhara, raising fears of wider instability in the Horn of Africa. Relations between the TPLF and the federal government have worsened in recent months, despite a 2022 peace deal that ended a devastating two-year civil war in which an African Union mediator estimated about 600,000 people died. The United States has urged restraint and dialogue, while the UN says insecurity is disrupting humanitarian work.
- TPLF forces have left Mekelle as fighting approaches.
- Residents say pro-government forces now control the city.
- Renewed conflict threatens stability and humanitarian access.
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The Tigray People's Liberation Front is a rebel group that controls Tigray in northern Ethiopia. The TPLF has been in military conflict with Ethiopia's national army. The group's position has been weakening as government forces advance into territory the TPLF holds.
Tigray suffered a devastating civil war from 2020 to 2022 that killed approximately 600,000 people. A peace agreement was signed in 2022 to end the war, but tensions between the TPLF and Ethiopia's central government have worsened in recent months. Fighting has now resumed despite the settlement.
The renewed conflict threatens stability across northern Ethiopia and the wider Horn of Africa region. The fighting is disrupting humanitarian aid to civilians who depend on it. International organisations and countries, including the United States, are calling for both sides to return to dialogue and restraint.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The TPLF argues that the federal government has systematically violated the 2022 peace agreement through marginalisation of Tigray and military pressure against the region, making armed self-defence justifiable in protecting regional autonomy and civilian security. Their withdrawal from Mekelle demonstrates prioritisation of civilian protection over territorial control, a choice reflecting genuine humanitarian concern that distinguishes their defensive stance from simple aggression or territorial ambition.
The case against
The federal government contends that the TPLF violated the peace accord by retaining military capacity and resuming hostile operations, requiring federal military action to restore territorial integrity and the rule of law. Unchecked TPLF military activity destabilises not only Tigray but threatens broader regional security across Afar and Amhara; military operations are necessary to prevent an ungoverned space where armed groups operate with impunity.
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Originally published by BBC World as “Ethiopian rebel forces withdraw from Tigray regional capital”.