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The central government now has full control over Mekelle, Abiy announced on Saturday. The airport and other important places have been taken. In addition, he said, thousands of soldiers who had been captured by the TPLF’s Popular Liberation Front were released. The TPLF has so far been in power in the northern province. The Ethiopian government launched a military offensive against them more than three weeks ago to overthrow them.
Abiy said that the last phase of the offensive was over. Previously, Tigray TV, affiliated with the regional government, reported that Mekelle had been bombarded with heavy artillery.
The task force established by the central government for the Tigray conflict had stated that the Ethiopian armed forces only targeted TPLF military targets and weapons depots. Civil institutions such as schools or residential areas would not be attacked.
Little is known about the local situation, as the Internet, telephone connections and electricity are largely cut off. According to UNHCR, more than 43,000 people have fled to neighboring Sudan and aid organizations are warning of a humanitarian disaster in Tigray. Various voices in the international community have called for a ceasefire, including recently the EU Parliament.
The background to the conflict is growing tensions between Tigray and the central government. The TPLF ruled Ethiopia for more than 25 years until Abiy came to power in 2018 and overthrew the TPLF. Many people in Tigray feel that they are not represented by the central government and demand more autonomy. In the multi-ethnic state of Ethiopia, with around 112 million inhabitants, there are a number of ethnic tensions that have increased under Abiy.
