The capture of Tigray’s regional capital Mekelle by Ethiopian federal forces and allied Tigray Peace Force fighters has revived painful memories of the 2020–22 Tigray war, with residents fearing a return to prolonged violence, displacement and economic hardship.
asserted
residents → ally → violence
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) confirmed on Saturday that it had withdrawn from Mekelle, saying its regional administration would temporarily operate from another location.
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administration → confirm → location
Government forces and allied fighters entered the city on Saturday, with a pro-government militia source, a humanitarian worker and a Mekelle resident confirming to the Reuters news agency on Sunday that they were in control of the city.
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they → ally → city
The development comes less than four years after the Ethiopian government and the TPLF signed the Pretoria agreement that ended two years of devastating fighting.
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that → come → fighting
Berihu, a 32-year-old bajaj driver in Shire, northwestern Tigray, said the latest fighting had been particularly difficult to watch.
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fighting → say → Shire
“I feel very heartbroken knowing that Tigray has gone back to full-scale war,” he said in a phone interview with Al Jazeera.
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he → feel → Jazeera
“We have already seen what the last war did to our people, and now it feels like we are going through it all over again.
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we → see → it
The 2020–22 war killed hundreds of thousands of people, according to estimates, displaced millions and caused extensive damage to infrastructure and livelihoods.
uncertain
war → kill → infrastructure
The African Union-facilitated agreement, signed in Pretoria in November 2022, ended the large-scale fighting, but key issues, including the status of disputed territories, the return of displaced people and the disarmament of Tigrayan forces, remained unresolved.
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issues → facilitate → forces
In July, the TPLF said the Pretoria agreement had effectively collapsed, accusing the federal government of failing to implement key provisions.
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agreement → say → provisions
The federal government rejected that characterisation, saying it remained committed to the peace process while accusing the TPLF of undermining the agreement.
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it → reject → agreement
The political dispute was accompanied by growing military tensions, including reports of sporadic clashes and drone strikes in parts of Tigray.
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dispute → accompany → Tigray
The two sides also traded accusations over troop movements and preparations for renewed fighting.
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sides → trade → fighting
The capture of Mekelle marks a major development in the renewed conflict, putting the city once again at the centre of the fighting.
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capture → mark → fighting
Fear spreads beyond Tigray
In Addis Ababa, the developments have also alarmed residents who remember the consequences of the previous war.
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who → spread → war
Abel, a 30-year-old shopkeeper, said the fighting had felt distant until explosions were heard in the capital.
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explosions → say → capital
“I woke up and heard that my city had been hit,” he said.
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he → wake → ?
“You hear about fighting in Tigray, and it feels far away.
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it → hear → Tigray
But when you hear about explosions in Addis Ababa, you start asking yourself what will happen next.”
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what → hear → yourself
Diplomatic sources said explosions were heard in several parts of the capital, including near the headquarters of Ethiopia’s military.
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explosions → say → military
Reuters separately reported that a source linked to an opposition alliance claimed the group had carried out drone strikes in Addis Ababa, including against military facilities.
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group → report → facilities
The claim could not be independently verified.
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claim → verify → ?
“If the war becomes bigger, ordinary people will suffer,” he said.
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he → become → ?
Bisrat, a college student in Addis Ababa, said the overnight explosions had reinforced his fear that Ethiopia could be entering a much wider conflict.
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Ethiopia → say → conflict
“If Ethiopia goes into a full-scale war, ordinary people will suffer,” he said.
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he → go → war
“I fear seeing another Sudan.”
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I → fear → Sudan
Sudan has been engulfed in war since April 2023, when fighting broke out between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, displacing millions and creating a major humanitarian crisis.
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fighting → engulf → crisis
The current fighting also involves a wider set of actors than the Tigray war that ended in 2022.
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that → involve → 2022
The TPLF is part of a broader opposition alliance that includes armed groups from several parts of the country.
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that → include → country
Fighting has also spread into Afar, while relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea have sharply deteriorated.
Ethiopian officials have accused Eritrea of interfering in Ethiopia’s internal affairs and supporting forces opposed to the federal government.
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officials → spread → government
Eritrea has rejected the accusations.
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Eritrea → reject → accusations
On Thursday, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the closure of its embassy in Asmara and declared 10 Eritrean diplomats persona non grata, saying they had been involved in activities that posed a threat to Ethiopia’s national security.
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that → announce → security
Eritrea subsequently announced that it was severing diplomatic relations with Ethiopia.
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it → announce → Ethiopia
The diplomatic rupture has added to concerns that the renewed fighting could acquire a wider regional dimension.
Mekelle changes hands again
In Mekelle, residents were left trying to understand what comes next after the TPLF withdrawal.
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what → add → withdrawal
Goitom, 37, said there was a period of uncertainty after TPLF forces left the city, with what he described as a security vacuum allowing theft in some areas, including government offices.
“On Friday night, we were hearing gunfire but did not know what was happening,” he said.
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he → say → gunfire
By Saturday, Ethiopian federal forces and allied fighters had taken control of key locations, including the airport, according to Goitom.
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forces → ally → Goitom
Reuters and The Associated Press news agency also reported that government-aligned forces had entered Mekelle following the TPLF withdrawal.
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forces → report → withdrawal
“It feels like we are back to square one,” he said.
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he → feel → square
“We have already seen what war can do to this city and to our families.
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war → see → families
People are worried about what will happen next.”
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what → worry → ?
…and 15 more, not listed.
The Aporia
