What We Know About Tigray Rebel Withdrawal From Mekelle

Mekelle, Ethiopia — Pro-government forces have taken control of Mekelle, the capital of Ethiopia's northern Tigray region, after rebel forces said they withdrew as federal troops advanced on the city, according to the BBC.

Who controls Mekelle now?

Two residents told the BBC that pro-government forces now control Mekelle and that fighters from the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) have abandoned the city. One resident said mobile phone services appear to have resumed in parts of Mekelle, the BBC reported.

Why did TPLF forces leave the city?

The TPLF, which has administered Tigray, said its decision to relocate from Mekelle was made because of concerns about risks to civilians as fighting moved closer to the capital, according to the BBC. The group described the withdrawal as temporary.

What sparked the latest round of fighting?

Fighting has broken out in recent weeks between the TPLF and federal government forces, along with allied fighters, in parts of Tigray, Afar and Amhara, the BBC reported. The violence follows the collapse of the 2022 Pretoria Agreement, the African Union-brokered peace deal that ended Ethiopia's two-year civil war — a conflict the AU's mediator estimated killed roughly 600,000 people, according to the BBC. Relations between the two sides have worsened over the past six months, with each accusing the other of violating that agreement, the BBC said. Last month, the TPLF joined six other armed groups, including the Fano militia from Amhara, in an alliance whose stated goal is removing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government from power, according to the BBC.

How has the conflict affected regional relations?

Ethiopia and Eritrea severed diplomatic relations on Friday after Addis Ababa accused Asmara of backing the new rebel alliance, an allegation Eritrea denies, the BBC reported. Ethiopia has also accused Egypt of supporting the rebels and expelled an Egyptian diplomat; Cairo responded by ordering an Ethiopian embassy official to leave within the same period, according to the BBC. Leaders from some of Ethiopia's neighbors met in Egypt on Sunday for diplomatic talks on the conflict, the BBC reported.

The U.S. State Department called for "restraint" and "dialogue" on all sides ahead of that meeting, according to the BBC.

"Restraint" and "dialogue" — U.S. State Department, on all sides in the Tigray conflict

The United Nations has warned that the deteriorating security situation in northern Ethiopia is severely disrupting humanitarian work and has called on all parties to guarantee safe, unhindered access for aid workers, the BBC reported.

What happens next in Tigray?

• Watch whether the TPLF's withdrawal from Mekelle proves temporary, as the group has stated, or marks a lasting loss of territory.
• Watch for further diplomatic fallout between Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt following this week's accusations and expulsions.
• Watch humanitarian access reports from the UN as fighting continues in Tigray, Afar and Amhara.
• Watch for any response from the Fano-led rebel alliance, which has stated its objective is removing the Abiy government.

The BBC noted the development marks a shift in the conflict that has raised concern among observers about wider instability in the Horn of Africa, including the risk of drawing in neighboring states.