Ethiopian Federal Forces Retake Mekelle Airport Amid Renewed Tigray Conflict

Ethiopian federal forces have recaptured the airport in Mekelle, the capital of the northern Tigray region, according to residents who spoke to The Associated Press on Saturday. This development reverses a takeover by Tigrayan fighters that had led to the suspension of commercial flights last month.

It remains unclear when federal forces regained control of Alula Aba Nega Airport, and details surrounding the handover, including whether any fighting occurred at the site, are still emerging. Those providing information requested anonymity due to fears of retribution amid uncertainty over the city's control.

Severe disruptions to internet and cellphone networks in Tigray have complicated the verification of information. Neither the Ethiopian government nor the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has issued an official statement regarding the airport's reported recapture. The overall control of Mekelle itself is also uncertain, with residents expressing concerns about potential looting.

"Many reports indicate that the government and allied forces have begun to control Tigray’s capital," said Jalale Getachew Birru, an Ethiopia analyst for ACLED, an independent global monitor. The AP has not been able to independently verify these reports.

TPLF fighters had seized the airport on September 23, prompting Ethiopian Airlines to halt flights to Mekelle and two other Tigrayan cities, Axum and Shire. The African Union has urged restraint, warning that escalating tensions threaten the 2022 peace agreement.

Federal troops are currently engaged in combat alongside allied Tigrayan forces against the TPLF. Reports indicate that the Tigray Peace Force, a faction that broke away from the TPLF, is operating with federal forces in the neighboring Afar region.

Diplomatic Tensions Rise

The reported shift in control at the airport follows a significant deterioration in relations between Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea. Ethiopia ordered 10 Eritrean diplomats to leave the country on Thursday and announced the closure of its embassy in Eritrea, which in turn stated it would sever diplomatic ties. Ethiopian authorities have previously accused Eritrea of supporting the TPLF, an allegation Eritrea has denied.

Analysts suggest that if the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed consolidates control over Mekelle, it is likely to entrust regional security to the Tigray Peace Force. This force comprises former members of the Tigray Defense Forces.

Shattered Peace Deal

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's administration has struggled to subdue Tigray’s rebellious leaders in recent months, with TPLF Chairman Debretsion Gebremichael openly challenging the government. The resurgence of fighting has significantly undermined the 2022 peace deal that ended a devastating two-year war between federal troops, supported by Eritrea and allied militias, and the TPLF.

"This is an extraordinary and largely unexpected turn in a war whose direction looked very different only days ago," Getachew Temare, an independent attorney and human rights defender from Ethiopia, commented on the potential fall of Mekelle. He noted that the emergence of the Tigray Peace Force distinguishes the current conflict from previous phases.

The renewed conflict has exacerbated the hardships faced by civilians already struggling to recover from the 2020-2022 war. Residents of Mekelle had previously reported disruptions to communications, banking, and essential services. In September, fears of renewed isolation were described by residents following the suspension of flights, along with reports of roads between Tigray and Afar being closed to civilian traffic, though these closures could not be independently verified.