The Tigray People’s Liberation Front has seized Mekelle’s main airport, a vital logistics centre in the northern Ethiopian city.
Seizure of the Airport
TPLF fighters moved quickly to secure the airfield, overcoming only token resistance from government troops stationed there.
Background to the Tigray Conflict
The latest move comes after months of rising tension between the Tigray regional authorities and the federal government in Addis Ababa. A peace programme signed in 2022 had aimed to bring an end to a brutal two‑year war, but its implementation has stalled amid mutual distrust. Both sides accuse each other of violating the agreement, with reports of sporadic clashes and humanitarian access restrictions. International mediators have warned that the situation is deteriorating, urging renewed commitment to the peace process. The airport’s capture raises the spectre of a return to full‑scale fighting.
Regional and International Reaction
Neighbouring states and global organisations have expressed alarm that the airfield’s loss to the TPLF could destabilise the wider Horn of Africa. The African Union has called for an immediate cease‑fire and a return to negotiations, while the United Nations has urged all parties to protect civilians and allow unhindered aid delivery. Diplomatic envoys are reportedly shuttling between capitals in an attempt to organise de‑escalation.
Why it Matters
The airport’s seizure underscores the fragility of Ethiopia’s peace programme and raises the prospect of a renewed large‑scale conflict that could exacerbate humanitarian suffering and destabilise the region.
