Ethiopian rebel forces withdraw from Tigray regional capital

Fonte da imagem, Getty Images. Legenda da imagem, Um soldado pró-governo de guarda em uma rua na região de Tigray, na Etiópia, no domingo.

• How fresh fighting in Tigray could spark wider conflict in EthiopiaPublished2 days ago.
• Ethiopia and Eritrea cut diplomatic ties as northern conflict escalatesPublished2 days ago.

Forças rebeldes na região norte de Tigray, na Etiópia, disseram que se retiraram temporariamente da capital regional, Mekelle, enquanto os combates com o exército nacional avançam em direção à cidade.

The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which has been running the region, said its decision to relocate was made because of concerns about risks to civilians.

Two residents in Mekelle told the BBC that pro-government forces now control the city and TPLF forces have abandoned it. One resident also said mobile phone services appear to have resumed in parts of the city.

Combate estourou nas últimas semanas entre o TPLF e as forças do governo federal, juntamente com combatentes aliados, em partes das regiões norte de Etiópia: Tigray, Afar e Amhara.

The development marks a major shift in the conflict and raises concerns among observers that the fighting could further destabilise the Horn of Africa, potentially drawing in neighbouring countries.

The US Department of State called for "restraint" and "dialogue" on all sides ahead of a diplomatic meeting about the conflict in Egypt on Sunday with leaders from some of Ethiopia's neighbours.

Os moradores de Tigray têm tentado se recuperar de uma devastadora guerra civil de dois anos que terminou em 2022 quando a União Africana (AU) mediou um acordo de paz, conhecido como Acordo de Pretória, entre as duas partes.

However, in the last six months there has been a worsening of relations, with both sides accusing each other of violating the agreement.

Last month, the TPLF joined six other armed movements, including the Fano militia from Amhara, to form an alliance whose stated objective is to remove Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government from power.

The civil war was one of the most deadly conflicts this century - the AU's mediator estimated some 600,000 people died as the fighting drove the region to the precipice of famine.

Na sexta-feira, os vizinhos Ethiopia e Eritrea cortaram as relações diplomáticas entre si depois que Addis Ababa acusou Asmara de apoiar uma nova aliança rebelde - uma alegação que ela negou.

Ethiopia has also accused Egypt of supporting the rebels, leading to the expulsion of an Egyptian diplomat, which Cairo responded to by ordering an Ethiopian embassy official to leave within the same period.

The United Nations has warned that the deteriorating security situation in northern Ethiopia is severely disrupting humanitarian work and has called on all sides to guarantee safe and unhindered access to people in need.

Ethiopia fighting escalates in Tigray killing 52 civilians, medic tells the BBC.

As jovens mulheres que lutaram na última guerra civil da Etiópia e não querem ver outra.