MEKELLE – The Tigrayan military command is preparing for the official end of the term of its interim president, Tadesse Werede Tesfay, amid a backdrop of heightening war fears. Despite regular contact with Eritrea, which has acted as a circumstantial ally against the federal power in Addis Ababa, sharp differences of opinion remain regarding the military capabilities of the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF). At the end of February 2026, a small delegation of Eritrean military personnel, led by Brigadier General Eyob Fesehaye (known as 'Halibai'), traveled to Mekelle to meet with General Fisseha Kidanu of the Tigray Peace and Security Bureau. This 'Mekete' strategic council brings together leaders from the Tigray Interim Administration and the TDF to prepare for the eventuality of a new war. While the TPLF has not officially acknowledged a military alliance with Asmara, recent skirmishes in the Tselemti district between the TDF, ENDF, and Amhara militias have accelerated troop movements across the country. The Ethiopian army has reportedly begun regrouping forces from Amhara and Oromia, redirecting them toward the Tigrayan borders. As of late March, people in the regional capital of Mekelle have begun stocking up on essential goods as banks see long queues of residents preparing for potential instability. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called on all parties to take urgent de-escalation measures before the situation becomes uncontrollable.