Ethiopian government forces and an allied militia have entered the town of Adwa in the Tigray region without a fight, days after capturing the regional capital Mekelle from rebel fighters.
Residents of Adwa, a northwestern town located roughly 40 kilometres from the Eritrean border, said federal forces moved in on Sunday, a day after fighters from the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) withdrew from the area.
One resident, who gave only one name, Aferwerki, described the situation on the ground. "All the shops in the town are closed. Last night, many government institutions, including Adwa Hospital, were looted," he told sources.
Another resident, who requested anonymity, confirmed the TPLF withdrawal but said government forces had not yet reached the town centre. "The roads are deserted. People are very afraid of theft," he said.
TPLF Vice President Amanuel Assefa said he "did not wish to comment" on the developments.
Conflict monitor ACLED reported that Ethiopian drone strikes targeted a hotel in Adwa on October 4, wounding between five and nine people, including security personnel, who were taken to hospital. Some ACLED sources indicated that TPLF Chairman Debretsion Gebremichael and other senior officials were present at the hotel at the time, but stressed the information had not been verified.
Ethiopian forces had captured Mekelle, Tigray's regional capital, the previous week, days after the TPLF confirmed it had withdrawn from the city and relocated its regional administration temporarily to another location.
Ethiopian Airlines resumed flights from the capital, Addis Ababa, to Mekelle on Sunday for the first time since September 23, when a seven-group armed alliance that includes the TPLF seized control of the airport following an offensive against Ethiopian forces.
At Mekelle airport, former Tigray leader Getachew Reda, who now serves as an adviser to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, addressed supporters gathered to welcome him and Ethiopia's intelligence chief Redwan Hussein. "I would like to assure you on this occasion that we will bring visible change, a change beyond mere hope," Reda said.
Ethiopia has accused Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt of backing the rebel alliance. Khartoum and Cairo have denied any involvement. Eritrea, which fought alongside Ethiopia's federal army during the 2020-2022 war, severed diplomatic ties with Addis Ababa last week over the accusations.
