The Ethiopian government’s primary obligation is to respect the territorial status quo ante. This includes ensuring the withdrawal of external forces from Tigray and the reinstatement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees.
These critical issues demand urgent attention from the interlocutors of the Pretoria Agreement to achieve lasting peace in the region. Failure to address them before the planting season has severe humanitarian and security consequences, not just for Tigray, but for the entire region.
Meanwhile, the invaders have kept on taking measures to further complicate the safe return of IDPs and refugees. Ethnic cleansing and resettling to bring about demographic change continue in the occupied Tigrayan territories unabated. This, coupled with the Ethiopian government’s lack of commitment to restoring constitutional order, emboldens the invaders and exacerbates the humanitarian crisis.
The international community must prioritize ending the suffering in Tigray. Only through addressing this humanitarian crisis can sustainable peace be achieved.
Salsay Weyane Tigray
Mekelle, Tigray
Feb 26, 2024
