Tigray military commander General Tadesse Werede, on Sunday, warned the Ethiopian federal government about return of IDPs. Tens of thousands of people were displaced during the war in northern Ethiopia, who are still staying in camps in Tigray.
Since the signing of the Pretoria peace deal in November 2022, Tigray has been urging the federal government of Ethiopia to ensure the speedy return of IDPs. The displaced people are mainly from 2 disputed zones. Southern Zone (Alamata, Korem, Ofla, Zata, Chercher etc) and Western Zone (Humera, Welkait, Tsegede, Tselemti) are disputed between the Tigray and Amhara regions of Ethiopia.
Last month, Tigray fighters took control of large parts of the southern zone. Amhara provisional administration was dismantled and Amhara militias fled the area. But the return of IDPs from Tigray to southern zone could not start. In a press conference yesterday, Gen. Tadesse Werede said “delays from the federal government in the South Raya area have hindered the process of enabling the displaced persons to return to their villages.”
He urged the government to facilitate speedy return of IDPs to both southern and western zones. “We will not allow another winter to pass without progress and refuse to be complicit in this inaction,” he said.
Earlie this month, the Tigray military commander in a statement said that issue of western zone would be solved by the end of first week of July 2024. Tigray wants Amhara provisional government in western zone to be dismantled and Amhara militias be disarmed and expelled before the start of return of IDPs to western zone. But Amhara provisional government led by Mayor Eshete Demlew and Colonel Demeke Zewdu is still operation there. This week, the Amhara provisional government leaders in Humera Welkait Tsegede held 2-day long meeting with people, vowing to defend the area from Tigray fighters. Read more..
Tadesse Werede’s new statement is indicative of frustration in the ranks of Tigray leadership about the return of IDPs. The General announced to fully co operate with the federal government on this issue of IDPs. “We will return the displaced individuals to their villages according to the agreed-upon timeline. We have no intention of creating conflict, as prevention is our shared objective, and there is no reason for us to come into conflict with the federal government’s security forces,” General Tadesse said.
It seems that the return of Tigrayan IDPs to western zone, if not properly managed, could lead to heightened tensions between Tigray and Amhara groups.