Ethiopia's Tigray rebels abandon regional capital as govt advances: journalist

Tigray rebels were abandoning their regional capital in northern Ethiopia on Saturday, a local journalist and residents told AFP, as pro-government forces advanced on the city. 

Fighting erupted on September 23 in northern Ethiopia as the rebel Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) launched attacks into neighbouring states, raising fears of a return to the devastating 2020-2022 civil war.

But federal forces and pro-government militias have pushed them back and are heading north towards the capital, Mekelle, having seized the city's airport on Friday.

"TPLF militants and leaders are leaving Mekelle," the journalist said.

Federal forces had not yet been seen inside the city.

Government offices and police stations had been left without security personnel.

"I am concerned that government and public property could be exposed to looting because there are no security forces in the city," a local resident told AFP.

"I am worried that lawlessness could spread in the city, and I am also afraid for my life. I want us to quickly return to law and order," added another resident.

The conflict has triggered a breakdown in Ethiopia's relations with Eritrea and Egypt, who it accuses of supporting the rebels.

Ethiopia expelled 10 Eritrean diplomats and shut its embassy in Asmara on Thursday, while Eritrea responded that it would "sever all diplomatic ties".

Eritrea has long feared landlocked Ethiopia plans to invade and seize access to its coastline.

The TPLF's leader, Debretsion Gebremichael, said in a video published late Thursday that "the war is regional and it is a war to control the Red Sea".

Ethiopia also expelled an Egyptian diplomat without explanation, prompting a reciprocal move by Cairo.

The rebels initially made advances in neighbouring Afar and Amhara states, working alongside local militias.

But they were pushed back this week, and the government launched a counter-offensive into Tigrayan territory along three axes towards Mekelle, according to the Critical Threats Project, part of the American Enterprise Institute think tank.

A pro-government militia of Tigrayans said on Friday that it had "taken full control of Mekelle Alula Aba Nega Airport" roughly 10 kilometres (six miles) outside the city.

Earlier, a humanitarian source told AFP on condition of anonymity that the TPLF had been entirely pushed out of Afar.