Lt. Gen. Taddesse Werede and Associates Escaped, Not Released: Col. Tewolde Embeb Tells UMD Media

October 13, 2026

In a phone interview with UMD Media, Tewolde Gebretensae (Tewolde Embeb), who arrived in Mekelle on Tuesday morning, recounted how he, Lt. Gen. Taddesse Werede, and their associates escaped from captivity after being taken out of Mekelle by the withdrawing TPLF-led regional government’s security apparatus on October 2.

Tewolde clarified that they were not released but escaped, correcting earlier reports suggesting they had been freed and placed under the protection of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF).

According to Tewolde, their last location before the escape was Rama, near the Eritrean border. He explained that preparations for the escape had been underway for several days, with a concrete plan taking shape on Sunday evening, October 11. The escape was carried out on Monday morning, October 12.

He told UMD Media that the operation involved the cooperation of guards, drivers, and members of the Rama district administration. It also required navigating areas where Eritrean (Shabia) forces were not present.

Tewolde emphasized that he did not travel to Mekelle with Lt. Gen. Taddesse Werede and that his own arrival was not facilitated by the ENDF. He entered Mekelle as a civilian.

Lt. Gen. Taddesse Werede and the other associates have also reportedly arrived in Mekelle, although separately from Tewolde.

The group had initially been detained at a hotel in Mekelle following the outbreak of renewed fighting on September 23. On October 2, as the TPLF-led regional government and its security apparatus withdrew from the capital, police officers removed them from the hotel and forced them to leave the city.

Their disappearance had raised serious concerns among families and supporters, who feared they might be forcibly taken to Eritrea.

Tewolde’s account provides new details about their escape and clarifies that their freedom resulted from an organized effort rather than an official release.