Ethiopian forces enter Tigray town of Adwa after TPLF withdrawal, residents say

Ethiopian federal forces and an allied militia entered the Tigray town of Adwa on Sunday without a fight, according to residents quoted by AFP. The accounts reviewed by Vocemundi trace largely to a single origin, AFP. Vocemundi has not independently confirmed them.

Residents said fighters of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) withdrew from Adwa on Saturday. Adwa lies about 40 km (24 miles) from Eritrea's border, according to The Hindu and Al Jazeera. The Hindu describes it as one of the most populated towns in the Tigray region.

A resident who gave only one name, Aferwerki, was quoted by AFP as saying: "All the shops in the town are closed. Last night, many government institutions, including Adwa Hospital, were looted." The reports do not say who carried out the looting. Another resident, who was not named, was quoted as saying: "The roads are deserted. People are very afraid of theft."

According to the conflict monitor ACLED, drone strikes targeted a hotel in Adwa on 4 October. ACLED said between five and nine people, including security personnel, were wounded and taken to hospital. Al Jazeera described the strikes as Ethiopian. The Hindu's account of ACLED's statement does not say who carried them out. ACLED said some of its sources indicated that TPLF Chairman Debretsion Gebremichael and other senior officials were at the hotel. ACLED stressed that this information was not verified.

Ethiopian government forces took control of the regional capital, Mekelle, earlier this month after the TPLF withdrew, according to The Hindu and Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera reports that government forces captured the town of Adigrat days before entering Adwa. Flights to Mekelle resumed on Sunday. Al Jazeera says Ethiopian Airlines flew from Addis Ababa for the first time since 23 September. The Hindu reports that telecommunications services have also been restored, without specifying where.

According to Al Jazeera, fighting began on 23 September, when a seven-group armed alliance that includes the TPLF started fighting Ethiopian forces and captured Mekelle airport. This account comes from Al Jazeera alone among the reports reviewed by Vocemundi.

What is disputed

Accounts differ on how far federal forces have moved inside Adwa. Residents said the forces entered the town. An anonymous resident said they had not reached the town centre.

What each side says

The Ethiopian government accuses Eritrea of backing the TPLF. Al Jazeera reports that it also accuses Sudan and Egypt, which deny involvement. Eritrea cut diplomatic ties with Ethiopia last week over these accusations, according to Al Jazeera. On Saturday, Eritrea asked the UN Security Council to take "deterrent measures" over what it called Ethiopia's "declaration of war", The Hindu reports. A foreign security source told AFP last week that between 5,000 and 8,000 Eritrean soldiers are in Tigray. The reports do not include independent verification of this figure.

The TPLF confirmed its withdrawal from Mekelle and said it had moved its regional administration "temporarily", according to Al Jazeera. TPLF Vice President Amanuel Assefa said he "did not wish to comment", according to The Hindu and Al Jazeera; the reports do not specify on what. The reports do not include any statement from the Ethiopian government or military about Adwa.

Analysis

The reported entry into Adwa would follow the reported captures of Mekelle and Adigrat. Together, these reports describe the TPLF being pushed back toward the Eritrean border. That could raise the risk of a wider Ethiopia-Eritrea confrontation, especially after Eritrea cut diplomatic ties and appealed to the UN Security Council. Another possibility is that diplomatic pressure, including any Security Council action, helps contain the conflict. Key questions remain open. Who carried out the 4 October drone strike? What is the role of Eritrean troops? Where have TPLF fighters gone? Independent verification beyond a single news agency would clarify the situation.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.