Brief

Ethiopia’s renewed fighting spreads as government retakes Mekelle

Federal troops seized Mekelle on Monday, extending a fresh wave of violence that began in late September.

By Felo News Desk · Published Thu, 08 Oct 2026 22:00:13 GMT

Federal troops and allied militias recaptured Mekelle, the capital of Ethiopia’s Tigray region, on Monday, according to a New Yorker report published on 7 October 2026. The advance follows a weekend offensive that pushed back an alliance of rebel factions opposed to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s central government.

What happened

Over the weekend, government forces moved north from Addis Ababa, confronting a coalition that includes the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and groups from Afar, Amhara, Somali and Benishangul‑Gumuz. By Monday the troops were in control of Mekelle, ending a brief period when rebel fighters held the city. The fighting has spread from Tigray into the neighboring Afar and Amhara regions, prompting internet and phone disruptions and raising fears of a humanitarian crisis.

What the reports add

The New Yorker notes that the renewed clashes follow a failed 2022 peace deal and a 2022‑2023 international cease‑fire that collapsed earlier this year. It also links the Ethiopian conflict to Sudan’s civil war, reporting that Abiy’s government has trained Rapid Support Forces troops while Tigrayan fighters have appeared alongside Sudanese forces. Earlier coverage by Felo News documented the conflict’s expansion on 24 September, the telecom blackout on 25 September, and explosions in Addis Ababa on 1 October, all of which underscore the widening instability.

What was said

The New Yorker does not provide direct quotations in the excerpt, but it references statements from regional analysts that the “strong dominate the weak” in the Horn of Africa and that the conflict illustrates a “new era of global politics.”

How it came about

The latest offensive builds on a series of escalations reported by Felo News. On 24 September, the TPLF announced a new offensive that shattered the 2022 peace agreement. The following day, residents of Mekelle reported fear as transport routes shut and internet service collapsed. On 1 October, explosions were heard in Addis Ababa as federal forces approached Mekelle. Amnesty International called for an African Union emergency session on 2 October, warning that the fighting risked regionalisation and possible violations of humanitarian law. The New Yorker situates these events within broader regional dynamics, including Eritrea’s alleged support for Tigrayan rebels and Ethiopia’s involvement in Sudan’s war.

Key facts

Federal troops recaptured Mekelle on 7 October 2026. (newyorker.com)
The fighting has spread to Afar and Amhara regions. (newyorker.com)
Internet and phone services have been disrupted amid the clashes. (newyorker.com)