Mekelle sees shops reopen as residents brace for renewed conflict

After federal forces recaptured Mekelle on October 4, merchants and banks have begun to reopen, offering a tentative return to normalcy. However, delayed public-sector wages leave many households struggling to afford food, rent and school fees, and the interim administration has warned it cannot pay salaries for tens of thousands of civil servants. Students worry that renewed hostilities could again halt their studies, prompting some to relocate to Addis Ababa for university placements.

Reports of troop movements near the Eritrean border have heightened fears of a broader regional clash, with conflicting accounts about Eritrean involvement. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced a six-month caretaker administration for Tigray to restore services and prepare for elections, but its effectiveness remains uncertain. Residents across the region remain anxious about security, income stability and the prospect of further conflict.