Ethiopian Forces Recapture Mekelle Airport from Tigrayan Fighters
According to residents who talked to The Associated Press on Saturday, Ethiopian federal forces have reclaimed control of the airport in Mekelle, the capital of the northern Tigray province. This reverses a seizure by Tigrayan fighters that suspended commercial flights last month.
When government forces retook Alula Aba Nega Airport, it wasn’t immediately apparent. Because it was unclear who controlled the city, many who provided the information refused to be named for fear of reprisals.
Information collecting and verification from Tigray has been challenging due to severe disruptions to mobile and internet networks. It was unclear how the airport changed hands and whether violence happened there. The airport is completely under military control. On condition of anonymity, an Ethiopian commander stated, “I can confirm that much.
Regarding the claimed seizure of the airport, neither the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, or TPLF, nor the Ethiopian government had released an official statement. Who was in charge of Mekelle itself was unclear. Amid the uncertainty, many feared looting, according to an AP contributor in the city. Ethiopian Airlines suspended flights to Mekelle and the Tigrayan cities of Axum and Shire after TPLF militants took control of the airport on September 23.
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