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Tigray’s public diplomacy group has called for the immediate cessation of continued fighting in southern Tigray, describing the clashes as unnecessary and avoidable.

In a statement issued today, the group described the fighting as a confrontation “between two brothers”, saying it was unnecessary and could be resolved through dialogue. It urged all parties to immediately cease hostilities and refrain from what it described as “unnecessary acts that will hold this generation accountable in history.”

The group called on both sides to commit themselves to dialogue as a way to resolve the dispute peacefully. It also appealed to civil society organisations, media institutions, influential figures, religious leaders and local elders to put pressure on the fighting sides to reach a peaceful resolution.

It also urged government and non-governmental organisations to provide urgent humanitarian and medical assistance to communities affected by the violence, including care for wounded fighters.

The statement did not provide further details about the fighting. However, there have been reports of clashes between Tigray’s security forces and the newly established armed group known as Tigray Peace Force, which have been organizing in the neighboring Afar region. According to several reports, clashes have been ongoing for days in Wajerat woreda, in Tigray’s southern zone.

The call for de-escalation from the Tigray public diplomacy group comes amid growing security concerns in Tigray. Last week, clashes were also reported in northwestern Tigray between the Ethiopian National Defense Forces and Tigrayan forces. The fighting reportedly involved drone strikes and resulted in the death of at least one person and injured another, triggering renewed fears of a slide back into a full scale conflict.

The reported confrontations led to the suspension of air travel to and from Tigray for five consecutive days, further disrupting civilian movement, creating financial difficulties for the population and adding to uncertainty across the region. Flights later resumed after fighting between the ENDF and Tigrayan forces eased, though the situation remains fragile.

The clashes have drawn reactions from the African Union, the United Nations, the European Union and other international actors, who have expressed serious concern over the reported military confrontations and the rising tensions between the Federal government and Tigrayan forces. Several of them called for restraint and urged all parties to adhere to existing commitments aimed at preventing a return to war.

Meanwhile, the Tigray Interim Administration has remained silent on the reported clashes in southern Tigray involving the Afar-based Tigray Peace Force and Tigrayan forces, amid growing calls for restraint and de-escalation.

Ethiopian Airlines has continued to suspend flights to and from Tigray for a third consecutive day, leaving passengers stranded. The airline informed passengers via text messages that flights were cancelled due to “unplanned circumstances.” and no timeline was provided for when flights would resume.

Meanwhile, Tigrayan state media outlets reported that drone strikes hit trucks carrying basic commodities in several parts of Tigray.

Tigray TV, citing local administration, said a strike struck two ISUZU trucks in Enticho, Tigray’s central zone past midnight between 3:30 and 4:00 AM local time. The trucks were reportedly carrying bananas, cooking oil, coffee and other goods. One driver was killed and another assistant injured, according to the report.

Dimtsi Weyane also reported a drone strike targeting a truck transporting basic commodities in Gendebta, near Mariam Shewito. Casualty details were not immediately available.

The drone strikes come amid ongoing tensions in Tigray, where renewed clashes have recently been reported between the federal government and Tigrayan forces, signaling a dangerous escalation after over three years of fragile calm. However neither the Tigray Interim administration nor the federal government has made official statements regarding the drone strikes.

Opposition parties in Tigray have warned of a possible return to war, urging the international community to take urgent action to preserve peace and protect civilians.

Salsay Weyane Tigray said escalating political and military tensions threatened a “catastrophic collapse” of the fragile peace that ended the two-year Tigray war in November 2022. The party called on the United Nations, African Union, European Union, United States and other mediators to intervene immediately, strengthen monitoring of the ceasefire, and ensure the safe return of displaced people.

The Tigray Independence Party also expressed similar concerns, citing rising tensions between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and the Ethiopian National Defense Forces. TIP said unilateral actions by either side could undermine the cessation of hostilities agreement, warning that renewed fighting would be devastating for civilians, particularly hundreds of thousands of displaced people still unable to return home.

Both parties emphasized that the Pretoria peace agreement, signed in November 2022, requires continuous international engagement and monitoring to prevent violations. They urged mediators to take urgent measures to enforce the agreement, protect civilians, and prevent a return to large-scale violence.

The warnings from the opposition parties come as reports emerge of clashes between government forces and Tigrayan fighters in northwestern Tigray and deteriorating conditions in Tigray, stoking fears of renewed hostilities.

Women-led civil society groups and human rights defenders have warned that the destruction of schools during Ethiopia’s war on Tigray has pushed girls out of education on a massive scale, threatening what they describe as a long-term erosion of women’s rights and economic participation in the region.

In an open letter released this week, the groups said the war that began in November 2020 dismantled Tigray’s education system, with schools looted, burned, militarised or converted into shelters for displaced people.

According to figures cited in the letter from the Tigray Education Bureau, about 88% of classrooms in the region were damaged during the conflict, while more than 2,100 members of the school community were killed. The letter states that 84% of those killed were female students.

“The destruction of education in Tigray is not only a humanitarian failure, it is a violation of girls’ fundamental human rights.“ the signatories wrote, warning that many girls may never return to school. The letter said girls in Tigray face heightened risks of permanent dropout due to poverty, displacement and entrenched gender norms.

It cited reports of rape, sexual slavery and forced pregnancy, leaving survivors traumatised, stigmatised and often unable to resume schooling. Even where schools have reopened, many remain unsafe or inaccessible, lacking water and sanitation facilities, psychosocial services and protections for adolescent girls and girls with disabilities.

The long-term consequences of denying girls access to education are profound, the groups said, warning that it entrenches gender inequality, limits economic and civic participation, and increases vulnerability to exploitation and poverty. The letter calls on the Tigray Interim administration, Ethiopia’s federal government, international donors and United Nations agencies to urgently prioritise girls’ education in the region.

“Education is not a privilege, it is a lifeline,” the letter said. “For Tigrayan girls, restoring education means restoring safety, dignity, and the possibility of a future free from violence and inequality.”

The letter was signed by individual women human rights defenders and women led civic organisations including Down Syndrome Ethiopia, Empowered Sisterhood Mekelle, Gender Empowerment Movement Tigray (GEM Tigray), Nolawi Women and Children Recovery and Development Organization, Sheba Podcast, Umbrella for the Needy, the Women with Disabilities Development Association of Tigray, and Yikhono,

Tigray’s peace and security bureau said that it has arrested Brigadier General Guesh Gebre and launched an investigation into allegations that include conspiring with an unspecified enemy and undermining the Tigray army, a day after issuing a statement referring broadly to disciplinary action against unnamed senior officers.

In a statement issued today, the bureau confirmed for the first time that Brigadier General Guesh Gebre was under its arrest and said he is being investigated. The statement attached what it said was a formal letter detailing the charges he is suspected of committing.

According to the letter, the allegations include “working with the enemy, attempting to undermine the army and violating decisions issued by the military leadership.” The statement did not identify the alleged enemy referred to in the charge or provide further details about the accusations, however the attached letter states that formal charges had been filed and that the court had granted a nine-day period for investigation.

The confirmation followed a statement issued on Saturday, January 13, 2025, in which the peace and security bureau said that some members of the army leadership who had “forgotten that everyone is equal before the law” were being held accountable for violating army regulations and engaging in disciplinary and legal violations. That statement did not name any individuals.

The statement issued on Sunday said the bureau would continue to take action against individuals involved in similar activities regardless of their rank, signaling a wider crackdown within the TDF leadership. The bureau also warned that it would not tolerate any attempt to obstruct decisions taken by the army.

Several local medias had earlier reported that Brigadier General Guesh Gebre, a senior TDF commander, was detained in Mekelle after being summoned for a meeting with Major General Masho Beyen, another senior military commander in the army. According to those reports, Guesh’s guards were disarmed upon arrival, his vehicle was seized, and he was held for several hours before being taken to an undisclosed location.

Wegahta could not independently verify the accounts of the arrest.

The detention of Brigadier General Guesh Gebre comes against the backdrop of prolonged internal divisions within Tigray’s political and military leadership following the end of the two-year war on Tigray.Brigadier General Guesh was among senior military commanders sidelined in January 2025 after refusing to endorse a decision by the senior TDF leadership to restructure Tigray’s interim administration, led by Getachew Reda and to endorse one faction of the then TPLF led by Debretsion Gebremichael. After refusing to endorse the decision General Guesh and several others were removed from command and suspended from duty.

Following months of removal from command and suspension from duty, Tigray’s public diplomacy group announced on August 19, 2025, that it had facilitated discussions between the interim administration and several senior military officers, including Guesh. The group said the talks resulted in an agreement “to work together on issues concerning the people of Tigray,” though no details were provided and it remained unclear whether the officers were formally reinstated or what commitments were made by either side.

Despite this announced agreement to work together, the recent detention of Brigadier General Guesh signals lingering divisions within Tigray’s military leadership.

Observers suggest that the arrest of Brig. Gen. Guesh may serve not only to discipline one individual but also to discourage broader dissent and reinforce loyalty to the current leadership. Many say the move can be seen as a warning to other military commanders, government officials, and political figures that opposing the leadership carries real consequences. However, warns that while such actions may temporarily strengthen the authority of the current leadership, they also risk deepening divisions and escalating tensions, potentially complicating efforts to achieve long term political reconciliation in Tigray.

A group of women’s rights organizations and activists marked the International day of migrants by urging governments and international actors to halt the deportation and detention of Tigrayan women, warning that forced returns under current migration policies expose survivors of conflict-related abuse to renewed harm.

In an open letter addressed to the international community, human rights bodies, governments and civil society organizations, the signatories said thousands of Tigrayan migrants, many of them women, are being deported or returned from Gulf states under the banner of migration management.

The letter said that for many women, return does not mean safety. Instead, it brings renewed exposure to displacement, trauma and insecurity in a region still struggling with the aftermath of war. The groups said arbitrary deportations and forced returns carried out without gender-sensitive screening or safe reintegration mechanisms amount to re-victimization.

During the war on Tigray, women and girls were subjected to systematic sexual and gender-based violence, including gang rape, sexual torture, forced pregnancy and long-term physical and psychological harm, the letter said. It added that survivors continue to lack access to essential medical care, shelter and psychosocial support even after the ceasefire.

The groups said arbitrary deportations and forced returns carried out without gender-sensitive screening or safe reintegration mechanisms amount to re-victimization. They also warned that migrants traveling across the Gulf of Aden or through Yemen face risks including kidnapping, rape, forced labor and death.

The statement said the deportations reflect a broader global shift toward the externalization of migration, prioritizing deterrence and deportation over protection. It argued that such practices violate international law, including the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to places where they face serious harm, as well as gender-specific obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

The signatories called on governments and international actors to halt arbitrary deportations and detentions of Tigrayan women, establish gender-sensitive return and reintegration mechanisms, ensure transparency in migration agreements, publish disaggregated data on returns, support safe humanitarian pathways, and strengthen internal protection and social services in Tigray and across Ethiopia.

“Return must not mean re-victimization,” the letter said, adding that migration governance focused on deterrence over dignity deepens suffering. The signatories said meaningful commitments to protection, healing and accountability are required if peace, justice and human dignity are to be upheld.

The letter was signed by organizations including Empowered Sisterhood Mekelle, GEM Tigray, Harambee Collective, Sheba Podcast, Umbrella for the Needy and Yikhono, as well as individual human rights activists.

An opposition party in Tigray said on Tuesday that elections in Tigray are in the best interests of its people, but warned that holding a vote without resolving post-war political, security and humanitarian crises would entrench injustice and undermine prospects for lasting peace.

The Tigray Independence Party said Tigray has been left without constitutional self-administration since the signing of the Pretoria peace agreement in November 2022 and elections are essential to restoring legitimate self-rule in Tigray but argued that current conditions make a credible vote impossible.

Speaking at a press briefing, TIP chairman Dr. Dejen Mezgebe said the people of Tigray had effectively been stripped of their right to self-administration following the Pretoria agreement that ended a two-year war on Tigray.

“Legally and politically, Tigray does not currently have the institutional authority to ensure self-administration,” the party said, adding that the absence of elected representation had left Tigray in a political and legal vacuum. The party said the absence of an elected government has left Tigrayans without representation or accountability at a time when decisions affecting the region’s future are being made.

Under the Pretoria agreement, signed in November 2022 between the Ethiopia’s federal government and the TPLF, Tigray was expected to hold elections within one to two years, TIP said adding that the commitment had not been honoured due to a combination of internal and external factors.

According to the party’s chairman these factors include the continued displacement of hundreds of thousands of Tigrayans, the presence of “illegal administrations” in parts of Tigray, and the ongoing occupation of territories constitutionally recognized as part of Tigray.

While reaffirming that elections are in the best interests of the party and the people of Tigray, TIP warned that proceeding without addressing these issues could undermine the credibility of the process and produce damaging outcomes. TIP said planning elections while these issues remain unresolved would amount to pursuing a “hidden agenda”.

TIP emphasized that territories constitutionally recognized as part of Tigray must be restored before elections can take place, and displaced residents must be allowed to return to their homes and voter constituencies.

According to a recent data from the Interim administration, hundreds of thousands of Internally displaced Tigrayans are still living in makeshift camps across Tigray with tens of thousands more living in neighboring Sudan due to continued occupation of their home by the Amhara and Eritrean forces. The party said holding elections while these populations remain unable to vote in their home areas would amount to disenfranchisement.

TIP also expressed its concerns regarding the post war elections preparations process. The party said Tigray’s post-war reality required a special electoral framework, arguing that standard election procedures cannot be applied in what it described as a post-genocide context.

“The usual mechanisms of elections cannot be used in Tigray,” the party said, citing incomplete implementation of the Pretoria agreement, damaged election infrastructure, unresolved transitional justice issues and widespread psychological trauma.

The party said an election conducted while election infrastructure remains damaged, justice processes have not begun, displaced people cannot return, illegal administrations remain in place and constitutional authority has not been restored would fail to meet the needs of the population.

“It will only bring serious consequences and will not address the people’s demands,” TIP said.

The party also expressed its concern about how Ethiopia’s National Election Board is preparing for elections, accusing it of ignoring Tigray’s post-war realities. TIP said preparations by the Ethiopian elections board to hold elections in Western Tigray risk legitimizing the illegal administrations that should’ve been dismantled following the Pretoria agreement.

“Any attempt to hold elections in areas still under occupation or to legitimize illegal administrations through elections is unacceptable,” the party said.

The party also sharply criticized the position of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front regarding elections, saying the future of Tigray and the rights of its people are being viewed through the narrow interests of a single political party.

During a press briefing In November 26,2025 the Tigray’s people’s Libration Front’s spokesperson told local medias that “An election in Tigray that does not involve the TPLF will not happen,” The spokesperson said reiterating that restoring TPLF’s legal status is non-negotiable prerequisite.

The Tigray independence party condemned the TPLF statement, calling the stance irresponsible and dangerous.

“If elections are postponed in Tigray, it should not be because of the legal status of the TPLF, but because of the vital issues facing the people of Tigray,” the party said, arguing that tying elections to a party’s status amounts to holding the population hostage to partisan interests. The Tigray Independence Party called on political stakeholders in Tigray to condemn the positions of the TPLF.

The party called on Ethiopia’s federal government to fully implement the Pretoria agreement, dismantle illegal administrations, remove all non-federal and foreign forces, and facilitate the return of internally displaced people. It said an all-inclusive interim administration should be established to oversee the transition and election process once conditions allow. The party stressed that the federal authorities should focus on addressing these fundamental issues instead of prioritizing technical election timelines.

The Tigray Independence Party’s statement on elections and related concerns has not yet received an official response by the National Election Board.

Privately owned Tigray Broadcasting Service said on Monday that authorities in the historic city of Aksum barred the media team from covering the annual Hidar Tsion festival, despite the outlet deploying a full crew with broadcasting equipment to report on the event.

In a statement, TBS said it initially contacted the regional tourism bureau head to obtain accreditation to cover the festival, a major Orthodox Christian celebration that attracts hundreds of thousands of worshippers and visitors. The bureau head told the media team that the responsibility for the festival rested with local authorities in Aksum and directed them to seek approval from the city’s Peace and Security Bureau, according to the statement.

However TBS said requests submitted to both the Peace and Security Bureau and the city mayor went unanswered. “We were later informed that the ban was not about a pass badge. We were told, ‘you are not allowed,’” the broadcaster said in its statement.

TBS said its reporters were ultimately forced to remove their microphones and cameras from the stage area and leave the venue. The outlet also alleged that its camera crew were prohibited from using their mobile phones to record and that their devices were searched.

The incident in Aksum comes amid a pattern of intimidation against TBS by local authorities. In June 2025, the broadcaster’s camera crew was arrested in Aksum while reporting on local governance complaints; they were held for several days before being released. A second incident occurred in Mekelle, the regional capital, where the media team was reportedly detained for several hours while covering protests by former Tigray special police members outside the police commission. A third reported case took place on July 27, 2025, when a TBS journalist covering a protest in Wejerat, Southern Tigray, faced unspecified restrictions and harassment.

TBS is a privately owned broadcaster that operates in Tigray, providing news, event coverage, entertainment, interviews and reporting. The outlet has covered social, political, and governance issues in the region, including local protests, public meetings, and community events and has been a platform hosting critical discussions on political developments in Tigray.

Media observers say the ban against TBS TV illustrate a broader challenging and risky environment for journalists in Tigray. Journalists report ongoing challenges in operating independently, citing arrests, intimidation and risks of personal violence.

In a report published in october 21, 2025, the committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said that three years after the war ended, Tigray remains tense and dangerous for journalists, who have been shot at, detained, raided, and swept up in a local power struggle.

“After two years when reporting from Tigray was almost impossible amid war crimes, famine and a lengthy communications shutdowns, covering local news remains risky and challenging.” CPJ reported

Authorities in Aksum were not immediately available to respond to requests for comment, and calls to officials in the Peace and Security Bureau went unanswered

Women’s organizations and human rights defenders in Tigray have issued an urgent call for the international community to strengthen protections for women and girls affected by the war on Tigray, warning that existing mechanisms are insufficient to address the full spectrum of harm.

In a joint press release, the groups highlighted that gendered violence in Tigray extends far beyond sexual assault, encompassing economic devastation, cultural erasure, forced displacement, restricted access to healthcare, educational exclusion, digital exploitation, and long-term psychological trauma.

“Women and girls in Tigray have faced systemic economic destruction, cultural genocide, starvation tactics, educational exclusion, algorithm-driven exposure to sexualized digital content, and trauma requiring specialized medical intervention far beyond the capacity of families or local communities,” the letter said.

The coalition, including local organizations including Empowered Sisterhood Mekelle, GEM Tigray, Yikhono, and the Women with Disabilities Development Association of Tigray and human rights advocates underscored that impunity remains a major challenge.

“The government responsible for genocide remains in power, obstructs accountability processes, controls data collection, restricts media access, and suppresses survivor testimony,” the letter said, describing these actions as structural drivers of continued violence.

The coalition urged governments, United Nations bodies, international courts, donors, researchers, medical professionals, faith and community leaders, media organizations, and global citizens to take action.

Read full letter here:👇🏾

Three years after the war on Tigray officially ended, women and girls continue to face life-threatening risks, including child marriage, sexual exploitation, gender-based violence, trafficking and child labor, according to a new report submitted to the United Nations.

The 64-page submission, prepared by Gender Empowerment Movement Tigray details the widespread post-war devastation, systemic breakdowns and persistent threats to women and children. GEM Tigray urged urgent international intervention to protect vulnerable populations and restore basic social systems.

GEM Tigray warns that small-scale interventions such as awareness campaigns or one-off cash transfers are insufficient to reverse this trend. Instead, it calls for comprehensive, multi-sectoral programs combining education, legal protection, and community-based support.