Ethiopian troops have recaptured the historic town of Lalibela from Tigrayan rebels, the government has said. This is the latest victory claimed by the government since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed went to the front lines last week to lead the fight-back. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front, TPLF, said it had made a strategic withdrawal from certain areas. Lalibela, famous for its rock-hewn churches, was captured by the rebels in August.
It is a UNESCO world heritage site in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, and was a popular tourist destination before the civil war broke out in Ethiopia last year.