Symbolic imageEthiopian forces take Mekelle as four neighbours close ranks in Egypt
Federal troops and allied Tigrayan fighters took Mekelle over the weekend after the TPLF pulled out. On Sunday, Egypt, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan rejected unilateral Nile measures.
Federal forces and the Tigray Peace Force, a militia of a breakaway TPLF faction, entered Mekelle without fighting on Saturday, 3 October, according to Le Monde. The TPLF said it had temporarily moved out to protect Tigray's sovereignty. Fighting had escalated on 23 September, when the TPLF seized airports in Mekelle, Axum and Shire, the New York Times reports. AFP reports looting in some districts. Ethiopian state media quote Abraham Belay saying a temporary administration is being prepared, with regional elections hoped for within months.
Summit in New Alamein
On Sunday the four leaders rejected unilateral measures that undermine current Nile water uses and said Red Sea control should stay with coastal states. According to their joint statement, they also rejected recognising Somaliland.
Eritrea as next target?
Ethiopia accuses Egypt, Eritrea and Sudan of backing the rebel alliance; all three deny it. An official of the breakaway TPLF faction told AFP: "The next one is the Eritrean dictator." The US urged Ethiopia and Eritrea to respect each other's territorial integrity.