Wolkayit Tegede mayor released a message on Sunday. The message was released in response to rallies taken out by internally displaced persons in Tigray. In Askum Shire, Adwa and Mekelle and Adigrat cities, thousands of IDPs marched yesterday. They urged Tigray interim government to ensure speedy return of the IDPs to their homes.
The message from Wolkayit mayor was released after these rallies. “Wolkayit-Tegede is not only a land for us, it is also our identity, love and heart,” said Ashete Demlew .
“Wolkayit Tegede State Humera Zone River-Shenterru, Garaw, Fasil’s Emperies in the Genana era of Gondar, the cedar, the tree, the mosque, the churches, the mosque; the red village; the market; the old age of the 8 May-Atat; our “Angotogna” marriage ceremony where we say love is respected by Tewahdo; the culture and ethics of Gondar etc… Everything has a special meaning of being Amhara for us. This gives us a special feeling of dignity,” he further said.
Wolkayit Tsegede Humera is disputed zone between Tigray and Amhara regions of Ethiopia. It is being controlled by Amhara provisional government and federal forces. Tens of thousands of Tigrayans were expelled from the zone during the two year long war which ended in November 2022.
Tigray Interim President, Getachew Reda, in his talk with IDPs yesterday, said that soon IDPs would start returning to their homes and talks are being held between the Tigray and Amhara regions on this issue.
Will Ashete Demlew-led Amhara administration allow the return of Tigrayan IDPs to Wolkayit Tsegede Humera? It remains to be seen how this thorny border and identity issue will be solved by Tigray, Amhara regions and the Ethiopian federal government.
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