Ethiopian Federal Forces Take Strategic Tigray Town of Adwa as Airlines Resume Mekelle Flights

Ethiopian government troops and an allied militia moved into the northwestern town of Adwa on Sunday, encountering no resistance from rebel fighters who had withdrawn a day earlier, according to residents who spoke to AFP. The town, located roughly 40 kilometres (24 miles) from Ethiopia's border with Eritrea, represents the latest territorial gain for federal forces in the restive Tigray region.

Witnesses described a tense and fearful atmosphere in Adwa following the entry of government forces. One local resident, who identified himself only as Aferwerki, reported that businesses throughout the town had shuttered their doors. He also alleged that numerous government institutions, including Adwa Hospital, had been looted overnight.

Another resident, who requested anonymity, corroborated accounts that Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) fighters had pulled out of Adwa before government troops arrived. However, this witness noted that while federal forces had deployed within the town, they had not yet established a presence in its central district. The roads, he said, were empty, and residents remained deeply anxious about the possibility of theft and disorder.

The TPLF's vice president, Amanuel Assefa, declined to provide any comment when approached regarding the developments in Adwa. The lack of official response from the rebel movement added to the uncertainty surrounding the situation on the ground.

The capture of Adwa follows a series of significant battlefield developments for Ethiopian government forces. Just days earlier, federal troops seized Adigrat, another strategically important town in the region. The successive losses have raised questions about the TPLF's ability to maintain control over territory it has held during the current conflict.

Conflict monitoring group ACLED reported that Ethiopian drone strikes had targeted a hotel in Adwa on October 4, resulting in injuries to between five and nine individuals, including security personnel who required hospital treatment. According to ACLED, some of its sources indicated that TPLF Chairman Debretsion Gebremichael and other senior officials were present at the hotel at the time of the strike. However, the monitoring organisation emphasised that this information had not been independently verified.

The broader trajectory of the conflict has shifted markedly in recent days. Last week, Ethiopian forces captured Mekelle, Tigray's regional capital, after the TPLF confirmed it had withdrawn from the city and relocated its regional administration to an alternative location on a "temporary" basis. The loss of Mekelle represented a substantial blow to the rebel group's territorial holdings and administrative capacity.

In a sign of returning normalcy to the regional capital, Ethiopian Airlines resumed flights between Addis Ababa and Mekelle on Sunday. This marked the first time the route had been operational since September 23, when a seven-group armed alliance that includes the TPLF launched attacks on Ethiopian forces and seized the airport, disrupting commercial air travel to the region.

The resumption of flights was accompanied by a notable political gathering at Mekelle airport, where Getachew Reda, a former Tigray leader who now serves as an adviser to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, arrived alongside Ethiopia's intelligence chief, Redwan Hussein. The two were greeted by supporters and soldiers in a procession that underscored the shifting political dynamics in the region.

Addressing those who welcomed him, Getachew Reda offered assurances about the future. He stated that he would work to deliver tangible change that went beyond simple optimism, suggesting that the federal government's return to Tigray would bring meaningful improvements for residents who have endured months of conflict and instability.

The conflict has increasingly taken on regional dimensions, with Ethiopia accusing Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of providing support to the rebel alliance. This accusation has heightened tensions across the Horn of Africa and raised concerns about the potential for a broader confrontation. The involvement of external actors, whether real or perceived, has complicated diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation.

Both Khartoum and Cairo have firmly denied any involvement in backing the rebel coalition. Eritrea, which previously fought alongside Ethiopia's federal army during the 2020-2022 war in Tigray, severed diplomatic relations with Ethiopia last week in response to the accusations. The rupture in ties between the two neighbours represents a significant diplomatic escalation in an already volatile regional environment.

The fighting that erupted on September 23 shattered a period of relative calm that had followed the conclusion of the 2020-2022 war, during which Eritrean forces had fought alongside Ethiopian federal troops against the TPLF. The renewal of hostilities has displaced thousands of civilians and created a new humanitarian emergency in a region still recovering from the devastating earlier conflict.

The capture of Adwa, given its proximity to the Eritrean border, carries particular strategic significance. Control of the town provides federal forces with a key position in the northwestern corridor of Tigray and could facilitate further military operations in the surrounding areas. The manner in which government forces took the town, without armed confrontation, may suggest that TPLF fighters have adopted a strategy of withdrawal rather than direct engagement in certain areas.

Residents of Adwa and surrounding communities now face an uncertain future. The reports of looting and the closure of businesses reflect the deep apprehension felt by civilians caught between competing armed forces. Humanitarian access to the area remains a critical concern, particularly given the reported impact on medical facilities such as Adwa Hospital.

As Ethiopian forces consolidate their control over key urban centres in Tigray, questions persist about the sustainability of these gains and the prospects for a negotiated resolution to the conflict. The international community has watched the unfolding situation with growing alarm, particularly given the involvement of multiple regional actors and the potential for further escalation that could destabilise the wider Horn of Africa region.