Addis Ababa, October 27, 2026 (FMC) — Buildings, offices and critical infrastructure at the former Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) Northern Command headquarters in Mekelle remain unusable following extensive destruction by the defunct TPLF group, with the damage leaving a major national defense institution facing a costly reconstruction process.
The destruction documented by Fana Media Corporation colleagues visiting the site in the Tigray Region shows the scale of damage to a compound once central to Ethiopia’s military administration and mission execution.
Office buildings and other facilities have been left unfit for service, while damage to institutional property and infrastructure has stripped the compound of much of its former functionality.
The consequences extend beyond the physical condition of the buildings. The Northern Command headquarters occupied a significant place in Ethiopia’s defense system, and the destruction of its facilities has damaged national property and weakened institutional capacity.
Restoring the compound requires extensive repairs, infrastructure rehabilitation and the replacement or restoration of damaged assets.
The reconstruction burden adds to the cost of the destruction inflicted by the defunct TPLF group. Resources that could support other national priorities must instead be directed toward restoring the damaged facilities and returning them to service.
The condition of the former headquarters stands as a record of the damage inflicted on a critical national institution: buildings left unusable, public assets destroyed and a costly restoration effort still ahead.