Tigray People's Liberation Front fighters seized Mekelle airport on Tuesday, sparking fresh clashes with federal troops in the Afar region.

Airport seized and fighting spreads

According to Euronews, the TPLF took control of the airfield after a brief but intense assault, raising their flag over the terminal. Ethiopian Airlines announced the suspension of services to the three airports that serve Tigray, citing security concerns.

Federal forces responded by engaging TPLF units at two separate sites in Afar, a strategically important desert province that links the Red Sea coast to the interior. Both sides exchanged gunfire, but casualty figures remain unconfirmed.

Witnesses described a scene of chaos as soldiers on both sides moved through dust‑laden streets, while civilians fled the vicinity of the runway. Local merchants reported that market stalls were abandoned and that electricity had been cut off in parts of the city.

Humanitarian aid at risk

The airport’s capture threatens the fragile supply chain that has delivered food and medical aid since the November 2022 Pretoria Agreement ended the three‑year war. The United Nations had relied on Mekelle’s airstrip to air‑drop supplies to hard‑to‑reach communities.

Humanitarian agencies warned that the disruption could exacerbate an already dire situation, where over two million people remain displaced and face acute food insecurity. Aid groups have urged the warring parties to respect humanitarian corridors, a request the federal government has yet to address publicly.

Political fallout and next steps

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office condemned the seizure as a “deliberate violation of the peace accord” and vowed to restore federal authority. No official response from the TPLF has been released, though local reports suggest they view the move as a pressure tactic ahead of forthcoming regional talks.

The breakdown of the Pretoria Agreement revives fears of a wider resurgence of conflict that could destabilise Ethiopia’s already fragile economy and spill over into neighbouring Sudan and Eritrea. The African Union has called for an urgent emergency meeting in Addis Ababa, while the United Nations Security Council is expected to convene later this week to assess the situation.

International observers note that the renewed fighting comes at a time when Ethiopia is seeking to attract foreign investment for its infrastructure projects. A prolonged conflict could deter investors and jeopardise the country’s development agenda.

Negotiators from the AU and the UN are slated to meet with representatives of the federal government and the TPLF in the coming days, hoping to revive dialogue before the violence spreads further.