Ethiopian govt forces enter key Tigray town near Eritrea border
Ethiopian federal forces have entered the town of Adwa in the Tigray region following the withdrawal of TPLF rebels. The situation remains tense as residents report looting and fear of further conflict.
Why it matters
The ongoing conflict in Ethiopia has severe humanitarian implications and risks drawing in neighboring Eritrea, threatening regional peace.
In this photo taken with a smartphone, soldiers participate in a procession welcoming former Tigray leader Getachew Reda in Mekelle, Ethiopia, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Filmon Equar Hailu) | Photo Credit: Filmon Equar Hailu
Ethiopian federal forces and their allies entered a key northern Tigrayan town near the Eritrean border without a fight, residents told A FP o n Monday (October 12, 2026), after it was abandoned by rebels.
Clashes erupted in late September between the federal army and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), who made gains in neighbouring Afar region but are increasingly being pushed back towards the Eritrean border.
Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of backing the TPLF forces and the fighting has reignited fears of a fresh war between the two neighbouring countries.
The Tigrayan regional capital Mekelle fell to government forces earlier this month after the TPLF evacuated.
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