The Tigray administration, led by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), said it had left Mekelle and would continue to lead the fight from another location. The announcement came as federal forces entered the capital of the Tigray region on Saturday. The TPLF described its withdrawal from Mekelle as a strategic decision rather than an end to its resistance, saying its leadership would continue coordinating the struggle from elsewhere and calling on its supporters to remain committed to the cause.

In a statement, the TPLF said it had decided to withdraw from Mekelle after taking into account the potential consequences of continued fighting in the densely populated capital. It said the move was to avoid giving federal forces a reason to bombard the city, potentially harming civilians and destroying civilian infrastructure.

Federal forces and allied forces have been observed in Mekelle city on since Saturday. Telephone and internet services, which had been cut off in the city for the past 10 days, were restored on Sunday.

In a another video message on Thursday, TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael implied the TPLF would continue guerrilla-style attacks as they did when Mekelle fell to government forces in 2020. Their insurgent campaign ultimately led to the TPLF retaking the city in mid-2021.

“We operate under a strategy to strike the enemy wherever we choose,” Debretsion said.