December 9, 2025 — Mekelle (Tigray Mass Media Agency) As the world marks the tenth anniversary of the UN’s International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of Genocide, the Commission of Inquiry on Tigray Genocide (CITG) has issued a press release condemning the international community’s failure to uphold the global promise of “Never Again,” while the people of Tigray continue to suffer the brunt of the war.
In its press release, the Commission stresses that today’s commemoration serves as a reminder to honor victims of the war on Tigray by standing firmly for truth and refusing silence. The war on Tigray, launched in November 2020, left a trail of atrocities that the Commission describes as “extensive, systematic, and deliberate.”
According to CITG’s documented findings, mass killings, widespread sexual and gender-based violence, forced displacement, and the deliberate denial of means of survival were carried out against civilians across Tigray. Their findings showed that out of 481,201 respondents surveyed, 286,250 reported surviving at least one form of gender-based violence. Among them, 152,108 — representing 53.14% — endured rape, and 70% of those who disclosed the number of perpetrators said they had been subjected to gang rape. The report further revealed that 975 survivors were burned with chemicals and 529 were killed during the assaults.
Beyond sexual violence, the Commission highlights the immense scale of civilian suffering, including the killing, injury, displacement, and torture of millions. Many displaced civilians continue to live in makeshift camps, awaiting a safe and dignified return to their homes.
The CITG notes that although large-scale fighting stopped following the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) in November 2022, the systematic denial of essential means of survival persists. Reports from CITG revealed that thousands of health centers, schools, businesses, public infrastructure, and household facilities were deliberately destroyed. The Commission estimates the total economic damage and loss at no less than 146 billion USD, underscoring what it calls an intentional strategy to deprive the population of the basic conditions needed to live.
Marking Anti-Genocide Day, CITG calls for concrete and urgent international action aligned with global legal obligations. The Commission urges the establishment of a genuinely independent, victim-centered justice process to ensure accountability for all international crimes committed during the war. The Commission also emphasizes on the immediate need to facilitate the safe return of displaced communities, restore humanitarian access, and rebuild essential public services.
“The “Never Again” promise of international community demands immediate and coordinated measures to protect vulnerable populations and restore the rights of the Tigrayan People.” the press release reads.
As the world reflects on a decade dedicated to preventing genocide, the Commission reaffirms that remembrance must lead to action. The people of Tigray, it says, deserve truth, justice, and dignity — and the fulfillment of a promise long broken, but not beyond repair.
