Ethiopian forces seize Mekelle airport as Tigray conflict deepens regional rifts

Key points

• Ethiopian troops regained control of the Alula Aba Nega Airport in Mekelle, a key strategic target seized by rebels at the start of the conflict on September 23.
• Eritrea severed diplomatic relations with Ethiopia, accusing Addis Ababa of arming Tigray rebels and pursuing a hostile agenda, though Asmara denies direct involvement in the current fighting.
• The conflict has spread beyond Tigray into the Afar and Amhara regions, with fighting reported in towns like Alamata and Maychew, threatening supply routes from Djibouti.
• Amnesty International has called for an emergency session of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, citing credible reports of civilian casualties, forced conscription, and attacks on infrastructure.
• Ethiopia’s Catholic Bishops issued a pastoral appeal for peace, echoing Pope Leo XIV’s call for dialogue, emphasizing that armed conflict only deepens divisions and harms the most vulnerable.

Background

The current fighting is a resurgence of tensions that had been paused by the Pretoria Agreement signed in November 2022. Previous conflicts in the region, including the 2020-2022 war, resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and a communications blackout. The recent escalation began with the formation of a new rebel alliance, the Alliance for Survival, which challenged the federal government. The diplomatic rupture with Eritrea follows a history of restored ties in 2018 that have since soured over cross-border support for armed groups.

How outlets are covering it

Al Jazeera focuses on the military progress of the Ethiopian government, highlighting the recapture of Mekelle’s airport and the retreat of TPLF forces, while also noting the diplomatic fallout with Eritrea. Amnesty International emphasizes the humanitarian crisis, urging the African Union to act immediately to prevent mass atrocities and restore communications in conflict zones. Vatican News highlights the religious response, with Ethiopian Catholic Bishops and Pope Leo XIV calling for peace and reconciliation, framing the conflict as a moral failure that harms the vulnerable. The outlets differ in emphasis: Al Jazeera reports on the geopolitical and military dynamics, Amnesty on the human rights implications, and Vatican News on the moral and spiritual appeal for peace.

Why it matters

The conflict threatens to destabilize the Horn of Africa, with potential spillover into Sudan and Egypt. The collapse of the Pretoria Agreement and the diplomatic rupture with Eritrea indicate a failure of previous peace mechanisms. The humanitarian toll, including civilian deaths and destruction of infrastructure, underscores the urgent need for international intervention. The conflict also highlights the fragility of peace in the region and the risks of regionalization, which could draw in neighboring countries and disrupt trade routes through the Red Sea.

What to watch

The African Union is expected to convene an emergency session of its Peace and Security Council to address the situation in Ethiopia. Humanitarian organizations are calling for the restoration of communications services in conflict-affected areas to ensure civilians can access life-saving information. The diplomatic relationship between Ethiopia and Eritrea remains in a state of crisis, with no immediate signs of de-escalation. The military situation in Tigray may continue to evolve, with federal forces potentially advancing further into rebel-held areas.