Ethiopian government forces and allied militias have claimed control of the strategic town of Alamata in the Tigray region, following several days of renewed fighting between federal forces and Tigrayan fighters.
The claim was made on Monday, September 28, 2026, by the pro-government Tigrai Peace Force. Reuters reported that video posted by the group showed soldiers moving through the streets of Alamata while carrying Ethiopian flags. Two diplomatic sources also told Reuters that the town had fallen.
Alamata is located about 120 kilometres south of Mekelle, the capital of Tigray. The town is strategically important because it serves as a supply and transport hub for troops, food and fuel and lies close to Tigray’s border with the Amhara region.
A source linked to pro-opposition forces told Reuters that Tigrayan fighters were retreating from Alamata and expected the town to come under federal military control. However, representatives of the Ethiopian military and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) had not immediately responded to requests for comment, leaving some details of the situation unclear.
The reported capture comes after Tigrayan forces launched offensives last week across several areas of northern Ethiopia, including parts of the neighbouring Amhara and Afar regions. Tigrayan forces also reportedly captured the strategic town of Erebti in Afar.
The latest clashes have raised concerns about the future of the peace agreement signed in Pretoria, South Africa, in November 2022. The agreement ended the two-year Tigray war between Ethiopian federal forces and the TPLF, one of the country’s most devastating recent conflicts.
The renewed violence has also created a humanitarian emergency. The Associated Press reported that Doctors Without Borders (MSF) recorded a sharp increase in wounded people seeking treatment in northern Ethiopia. The number of patients at hospitals in Korem and Alamata reportedly rose from about 180 to more than 420 within 48 hours, while around 150,000 people were reported displaced.
The conflict is also creating wider regional concerns. Ethiopia’s army chief has accused Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting Tigrayan forces, allegations that have been denied or disputed by the countries involved.
The capture of Alamata, if maintained, could provide federal forces with an important position as they seek to consolidate control in southern Tigray and potentially advance towards Mekelle. The town changed hands several times during the 2020–2022 war.
The African Union and United Nations have called for de-escalation and renewed dialogue, amid fears that continued fighting could develop into a broader conflict across northern Ethiopia.
