Internally displaced persons (IDPs) from various parts of Tigray staged a demonstration at the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) headquarters, calling for immediate action to facilitate their return home. The protestors, rallying under the slogan “We will not stay in a tent for the fifth rainy season,” voiced frustration over prolonged displacement caused by the war on Tigray.
The demonstration comes a day after IDP representatives submitted a formal appeal to the Tigray Interim Administration, urging authorities to expedite their return to areas of origin before the onset of the rainy season. In their petition, the IDPs emphasized the worsening humanitarian situation in displacement sites and appealed for urgent, coordinated action at all levels.
Addressing today’s demonstrators, Fetlework Gebreegziabher, Head of the TPLF Office, acknowledged the continued presence of armed forces in certain areas of Tigray despite the Pretoria Agreement. She reaffirmed the TPLF’s commitment to ensuring the safe and dignified return of displaced persons ahead of the approaching rainy season. Fetlework emphasized that the repatriation process would proceed peacefully, avoiding the suffering and challenges previously endured by returnees. She further stressed the TPLF’s broader mission to restore both the lives of the people and the region’s governance structures.
Highlighting recent consultations with U.S. Embassy officials in Shire, Fetlework stated that discussions with international partners are ongoing to fully implement the Pretoria Agreement. She noted continued engagement with the United States and other stakeholders to ensure that all provisions of the agreement are respected and enforced.
Concluding her remarks, Fetlework accepted the IDP representatives’ request for direct dialogue, announcing that the Tigray Interim Administration, the TPLF, and regional security forces will hold discussions with displaced communities to work towards lasting solutions.
