Ethiopian government forces take control of Tigray capital after TPLF withdrawal
publishers 9articles 9first reported 4 Oct, 08:19 UTCdeveloping since 4 Oct · 7 editions
Ethiopian federal troops and allied fighters have taken control of Mekelle, the capital of the northern Tigray region, after opposition forces withdrew from the city.
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front said late Saturday that it had “temporarily moved out of Mekelle” to operate elsewhere. The announcement followed the recapture of the city’s main airport by Ethiopia’s federal army and pro-government forces.
A source close to the pro-government Tigray Peace Forces told Reuters that its fighters entered central Mekelle on Saturday afternoon, followed by the Ethiopian military. A resident and a humanitarian source also confirmed to Reuters that government forces controlled the city. Another humanitarian source told AFP that federal and allied forces had been observed at several locations in Mekelle and that the TPLF had abandoned the capital.
The latest fighting began on September 23 after seven armed and political groups formed an alliance seeking to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government and establish a transitional administration. The renewed hostilities followed the collapse of a 2022 peace agreement that ended a war between the federal government and Tigrayan forces.
Ethiopia has accused Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting the opposition coalition. Sudan and Egypt have denied involvement, while Eritrea severed diplomatic ties with Ethiopia over the allegations. The United States on Saturday urged Ethiopia and Eritrea to exercise restraint and return to dialogue.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 4 articles, 1 with the publisher's own text; 4 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 6 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
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- This version written
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- Second model (editor)
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WHAT THE EDITOR DID
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