Ethiopia’s Tigray rebels abandon regional capital of Mekelle as pro-government forces advance

Rebels from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in Ethiopia were abandoning their regional capital of Mekkele in the north of the country on Saturday, according to local reports. The TPLF has been fighting against federal forces and pro-government militias since September 23 and launching attacks into neighbouring states, raising fears of an all-out civil war similar to that of 2020-2022.