The Tigray Democratic Solidarity Party (SIMRET) accused forces occupying Western Tigray of violating the Pretoria agreement and undermining federal-led efforts to ensure the safe return of internally displaced persons.
In a statement issued late Friday, SIMRET said the forces who were supposed to leave Western Tigray per the Pretoria agreement have continued to engage in hostile actions and issuing inflammatory statements threatening the ongoing process of returning IDPs overseen by senior federal officials.
SIMRET also accused certain ‘religious leaders and scholars,’ whom it said had a role in enabling the displacement of Tigrayans during the war, of continuing to act in ways that violate both the peace process & the constitutional administrative boundaries of the region.
The party criticized the federal government for failing to address the situation, urging it to advance plans for IDP returns, rehabilitation, and broader recovery initiatives.
“These actions risk reversing the progress made in the Federal led people-to-people relations between the two communities” the statement said, calling on all stakeholders to take corrective measures.
In its statement the party emphasized that it has been consistently calling for the full implementation of the Pretoria agreement describing it as a historic milestone intended to address underlying issues based on the constitution. However the Party noted that the Pretoria agreement has so far not achieved its intended results in a timely manner.
“Because of what internal and external spoilers who are not happy about the Pretoria agreement are doing, aside from silencing the guns and reconnecting ties with the Federal government, the agreement could not achieve its intended result timely,” the statement said.
SIMRET pledged that it will stand with the people against those who undermine the constitutional administrative territories of Tigray in violation of the constitution.
The statement follows a military parade and a series of hostile activities carried out in Western Tigray by the Tekeze Zeb, armed militia led by Demeke Zewdu in recent week which heightened an already growing tension and threatening the fragile peace agreement.