Tigray: TPLF leader claims war continues, three weeks after Mekele was retaken

The leader of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), Debretsion Gebremichael, stated on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, in a message broadcast by Tigrayan television, that his fighters were still clashing with the Ethiopian federal army in northern Ethiopia. According to Africanews, he warned that the region would remain "a graveyard for its enemies." The statement comes three weeks after the recapture of Mekele, the regional capital, by forces from Addis Ababa.

Claimed, yet unverifiable, victories

The TPLF leader claimed several tactical successes, asserting that his men had killed or wounded hundreds of federal soldiers in northern and central Tigray over the previous week. Africanews notes that these claims have not been independently verified. In a conflict where each side speaks primarily to its own supporters, these casualty figures should be read as claims, not as established facts.

Federal forces and their allies retook Mekele on October 4, 2026, following the TPLF's withdrawal, as well as other major cities in the region, reports Al Jazeera. On October 16, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced the establishment of a six-month interim administration for Tigray, tasked with restoring public services, organizing the return of displaced persons, and preparing for regional elections.

The shadow of Eritrea

The risk of escalation no longer comes solely from within. On October 8, 2026, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos accused Eritrea of sending troops up to 60 kilometers inside Tigray and appealed to the United Nations Security Council. Asmara denies any invasion, considers these accusations equivalent to a declaration of war, and has in turn asked the Council to act against Ethiopia. The two countries had fought on the same side during the Tigray war from 2020 to 2022; their relations have deteriorated since.

On the ground, a drone strike killed four people in southern Tigray this week, according to Africanews, which also reports strikes that hit civilians and a school in the neighboring Amhara region, where the army is clashing with Fano militiamen.

Salaries and schools on hold

Behind the military communiqués, daily life remains suspended. In March 2026, the interim administration of Tigray announced it could not pay the monthly salaries of approximately 137,000 civil servants, as expected federal transfers had not arrived. In April, the regional finance bureau reported a deficit of 8.5 billion birr affecting salaries and development projects. By mid-September, more than 5,000 students had requested temporary placement in other universities across the country, according to Al Jazeera.

In Mekele, businesses and banks are reopening, but residents interviewed by Al Jazeera still cite the same priorities: paid salaries, functioning schools and health centers, and the safe return of displaced families.

The outcome will depend on what the transitional administration actually does, and on Ethiopia's ability—as the continent's second most populous country and the seat of the African Union—to avoid a new war with its neighbor. For Tigrayans, a fourth year of low-intensity conflict is looming.