Getachew Reda Returns to Mekelle 19 Months After Being Forced to Leave, Welcomed by Singing Crowd at Airport

October 11, 2026

Getachew Reda, former President of the Tigray Interim Regional Administration (TIRA) and current advisor to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on East African Affairs, returned to Mekelle on Sunday, October 11, 2026, nearly 19 months after he was forced to leave the regional capital amid an escalating power struggle within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

Getachew arrived at Mekelle’s Alula Aba Nega Airport aboard what was reported to be the first flight since air services were interrupted following the outbreak of renewed hostilities on September 23, 2026.

His return comes amid rapidly changing political and military developments in Tigray, following the withdrawal of TPLF-aligned forces from Mekelle and the entry of Ethiopian federal forces and the Tigray Peace Force into the regional capital.

A Departure Marked by Threats and Military Obstruction

Getachew left Mekelle on March 11, 2025, amid an intensifying confrontation between his interim administration and the TPLF’s politico-military leadership.

In an interview with UMD Media following his departure, Getachew recounted how armed security personnel stopped his vehicle at a checkpoint while he was travelling to Alula Aba Nega Airport to board a flight to Addis Ababa.

According to his account, a senior military commander identified as Awetahegn subsequently pursued him in an attempt to prevent him from leaving Mekelle.

Getachew said the security officer who allowed his vehicle to pass through the checkpoint was reportedly arrested afterward.

The incident was among the clearest indications of the escalating confrontation between the civilian leadership of the interim administration and military commanders aligned with the TPLF faction seeking to remove him from office.

UMD Media reported at the time on Getachew’s allegations concerning the checkpoint obstruction and the subsequent arrival of military personnel at the airport.

Return Amid a Changing Political Landscape

Getachew’s return comes as the political and security landscape in Tigray undergoes another major transformation.

Federal forces have re-established control over Mekelle and its airport following the withdrawal of TPLF-aligned forces. The developments have opened the way for renewed federal involvement in the region’s security and administration.

The return of Getachew to the city he left under such contentious circumstances carries considerable political significance, particularly as questions remain over Tigray’s future administration, security arrangements, political participation, and the prospects for lasting peace.

His arrival also coincides with the resumption of air connectivity following the September 23 disruption, an important development for a population facing severe restrictions on movement and access to essential services.

The welcoming scenes at the airport mark a dramatic reversal of circumstances for the former interim president, whose departure in March 2025 occurred amid efforts by rival political and military leaders to remove him from power.