An attempt by security forces to arrest member of a local militia in the southern Tigray, Mekoni has left one civilian dead and at least six others wounded, according to residents and doctors who spoke to Landa Report, a local media outlet.
Following the incident, hundreds of residents took to the streets in Mekoni, denouncing the violence and demanding an end to civilian killings. Protesters called for the withdrawal of military forces from the town and urged an end to the violence against civilians.
Southern Tigray has become a flashpoint in recent months after the Tigray People’s Liberation Front announced plans to dissolve the existing zonal administration and install new leadership, a strategy the Party has pursued in other parts of the region.
On July 22, 2025, the Tigray Interim Administration announced the removal of senior officials in Southern Tigray, which TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael (PhD) described in a recent media briefing as part of an agreed restructuring plan. The announcement triggered large-scale demonstrations across the zone and drawing condemnation from civic groups and opposition parties. All government offices also suspended their work for days as part of the protest against the decision by the interim administration.
Tensions eased after a series of meetings and discussions between the interim authorities, zonal leaders and community representatives, which led to the reinstatement of the previous administration and the reopening of government offices.
Todays incident threatens to reignite tensions in Southern Tigray, raising concerns that the fragile calm achieved in recent weeks could quickly breakdown, potentially disrupting farming and other services that many residents rely on for their livelihoods.
As of now, the interim administration had not issued any statement on the incident, and Wegahta was unable to obtain comment despite repeated attempts.