TPLF captures Mekelle airport and clashes with Ethiopian forces as flights halted

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) announced that its forces have taken control of Mekelle International Airport and have engaged Ethiopian federal troops in two separate clashes in the Afar region. The developments came as Ethiopian Airlines halted all scheduled flights to the three airports serving Tigray—Mekelle, Axum and Shire—citing security concerns, a move that signals a likely breakdown of the Pretoria Agreement that had formally ended the 2020‑2022 civil war.

The suspension of airline services and the renewed fighting undermine the fragile peace established by the 2022 Pretoria Accord, which had included provisions for the reopening of air links to facilitate humanitarian aid and the return of displaced persons. Analysts note that the loss of air access could further restrict relief deliveries to the conflict‑hit northern region, while the clashes in Afar raise the risk of the conflict spilling beyond Tigray’s borders. International observers are monitoring the situation closely, warning that the erosion of the agreement may exacerbate instability and impede ongoing reconciliation efforts.