Ethiopian rebel forces withdraw from Tigray regional capital

ByTeklemariam Bekit, editor, BBC Tigrinya, and Jack Burgess. Updated 20 minutes ago.

Key points

• Ethiopia and Egypt have been embroiled in a longer dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam built on the River Nile.
• Fighting has erupted in recent weeks between the TPLF and allied groups and administration forces in parts of the northern regions of Tigray, Afar and Amhara.
• Ethiopia accuses Egypt, Eritrea and Sudan of supporting the Tigray rebels.
• Ethiopia has additionally accused Egypt of supporting the rebels, leading to the expulsion of an Egyptian diplomat.
• Two residents in Mekelle informed the BBC that pro-government forces now control the city and TPLF fighters have abandoned it.

As fighting with the national army moves towards the city, rebel forces in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region have remarked they have temporarily withdrawn from the regional capital, Mekelle.

For context, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). It has been running the region, remarked its decision to relocate was produced since of worries regarding risks to civilians.

Two residents in Mekelle informed the BBC that pro-government forces now control the city and TPLF fighters have abandoned it. One resident additionally stated mobile phone services appear to have resumed in parts of the city.

For context, the development marks a major shift in the conflict and raises reservations among observers that the fighting could further destabilise the Horn of Africa, potentially drawing in neighbouring countries.

Notably, the US Department of State pressed "restraint" and "dialogue" on all sides ahead of a diplomatic gathering regarding the conflict in Egypt on Sunday with leaders from some of Ethiopia's neighbours.

In practice, the presidents of Egypt, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan – which all have strained relations with Ethiopia – met on Sunday in the Egyptian coastal city of El-Alamein.

They pressed "respecting the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of states" and the resolution of disputes through "peaceful means".

Ethiopia accuses Egypt, Eritrea and Sudan of supporting the Tigray rebels. It they deny. How fresh fighting in Tigray could spark wider conflict in Ethiopia.

Tigray residents have been trying to recover from a devastating two-year civil war that concluded in 2022 when the African Union (AU) brokered a peace agreement, known as the Pretoria Agreement, between the two sides.

Nevertheless, in the last six months there has been a worsening of relations, with both sides accusing each other of violating the agreement.

Last month, the TPLF joined six other armed movements, including the Fano militia from Amhara, to form an alliance whose stated objective is to remove Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's administration from power.

In practice, the civil war was one of the most deadly conflicts this century – the AU's mediator estimated some 600, 000 individuals died as the fighting drove the region to the precipice of famine.

On Friday, neighbours Ethiopia and Eritrea severed diplomatic relations with each other after Addis Ababa accused Asmara of supporting a new rebel alliance – an allegation that it denied.

Ethiopia has additionally accused Egypt of supporting the rebels, leading to the expulsion of an Egyptian diplomat. It cairo responded to by ordering an Ethiopian embassy official to leave within the same period.

For context, the United Nations has cautioned that the deteriorating security situation in northern Ethiopia is severely disrupting humanitarian work and has called on all sides to guarantee safe and unhindered access to residents in need.

Ethiopia and Egypt have been embroiled in a longer dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam built on the River Nile. It cairo fears could reduce its share of water from the river.

While calling for adherence to international law over the usage of Nile waters, on Sunday, the four leaders session in Egypt affirmed respect sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of the regional states.

In a joint statement, they rejected "unilateral measures" that could harm downstream countries, in an apparent reference to tensions over Ethiopia's dam.

For now, ethiopian rebel forces withdraw from Tigray regional capital remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.