Government Forces Claim Control of Alamata Amid Renewed Ethiopia Fighting

Pro-government forces say they have taken Alamata in southern Tigray after days of fighting with Tigrayan forces across several fronts in northern Ethiopia.

Pro-government forces in Ethiopia say they have taken control of Alamata in southern Tigray after days of clashes with Tigrayan rebel forces across multiple fronts.

The Tigray Peace Force announced the fall of the town on Facebook. Conflict monitor ACLED also confirmed reports that federal forces had seized Alamata, although the available reporting does not independently verify every battlefield claim.

Strategic town in southern Tigray

Alamata is located on a major highway leading into Tigray and is regarded as a strategically important town. Its reported capture would represent a setback for the Tigrayan rebels, following offensives by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) against government forces.

The fighting has extended beyond Tigray. The TPLF launched attacks into the neighbouring regions of Amhara and Afar, according to the report. In Afar, the group reportedly made advances against government forces, taking Erebti and moving east.

Heavy clashes were also reported in Amhara, including fighting around Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The TPLF was reported to be operating alongside the local Fano militia in the region.

Fears of wider conflict

The renewed violence has raised concerns that Ethiopia could return to the large-scale civil war fought from 2020 to 2022. That conflict was estimated to have caused 600,000 deaths.

The latest clashes have taken place across areas that are important to Ethiopia’s transport and supply routes. Djibouti provides most of Ethiopia’s trade cargo, and the report said the TPLF was apparently seeking to disrupt supplies from the country. That reported objective has not been independently established.

The reported change in control of Alamata comes amid continuing uncertainty over the military situation. While pro-government forces and the Tigray Peace Force have announced the town’s fall, ACLED’s confirmation concerns reports of a federal seizure, and the full extent of the developments remains unclear.