TPLF Rebels Withdraw From Ethiopian Capital Mekelle Amid Renewed Fighting

Rebel forces from the Tigray People's Liberation Front withdrew from Mekelle, the regional capital of Ethiopia's Tigray region, as national army units advanced toward the city. The TPLF stated the withdrawal was temporary and motivated by concerns for civilian safety. Two Mekelle residents confirmed to BBC News that pro-government forces now control the city and that TPLF fighters have departed. Mobile phone services in the city were also reported restored following the pullout.

TPLF chairman Debretsion Gebremichael confirmed the group's exit from Mekelle but said the conflict remained fluid. The withdrawal mirrors a tactic the TPLF employed during the 2020-2022 civil war in Tigray when the group retreated from Mekelle and shifted to guerrilla operations before later recapturing the city. Fighting has spread across the northern Ethiopian regions of Tigray, Afar and Amhara in recent weeks. American physician Duke Burbridge of the Health Professionals Network for Tigray told BBC News that conditions in Mekelle were calm following the rebel exit apart from isolated gunfire and looting.

Debretsion Gebremichael said of the withdrawal: "We will attack the enemy where we choose, not where he chooses for us." The US Department of State called for restraint and dialogue from all parties ahead of a diplomatic meeting in Egypt. The presidents of Egypt, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan convened in El-Alamein on Sunday and issued a joint statement calling for respect of state sovereignty and resolution of disputes through peaceful means. Ethiopia has accused Egypt, Eritrea and Sudan of backing TPLF rebels, a claim all three governments deny.

Regional observers warn the renewed fighting risks further destabilising the Horn of Africa and could draw in neighbouring nations. The conflict's expansion into Afar and Amhara adds pressure on civilian populations including Christian communities in those regions who faced severe humanitarian conditions during the 2020-2022 war. The diplomatic gathering in Egypt signals growing regional concern about the trajectory of hostilities. No ceasefire agreement has been confirmed as of this report.