Tigray opposition Salsay Weyane Tigray has strongly condemned remarks made by African Union High Representative for the Horn of Africa, H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, during a high-level meeting on Sunday at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa.
The meeting, titled “What Can We Learn from the Agreement?”, brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the Tigray Interim Administration, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), and the Ethiopian federal government, to assess the progress of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA), which ended the two-year war on Tigray.
According to SaWeT, Obasanjo suggested that remaining occupied Tigrayan territories should be placed under the control of a “neutral body,” which he reportedly indicated to be the Ethiopian federal government and its allies. SaWeT firmly rejected this notion, arguing that the federal government is a direct party to the CoHA and cannot be considered neutral.
The party also emphasized that these territories remain under occupation following the forced displacement of Tigrayans—actions widely described as international crimes, including genocide and ethnic cleansing. SaWeT further asserted that Obasanjo’s remarks contradict the Pretoria Agreement, which prioritizes the restoration of constitutional order. The party stressed that the agreement contains no provision for continued federal occupation and that no legal claims over these areas had been established under the FDRE Constitution before their occupation.
“Salsay Weyane Tigray unequivocally rejects this statement as inconsistent with the CoHA and the FDRE Constitution, and as detrimental to the ongoing peace process. We demand its immediate retraction and clarification.” the statement read.
The statement further urged the international community and stakeholders, particularly the AU-mandated Monitoring and Verification Team, to expedite the withdrawal of occupying forces and ensure the safe and dignified return of displaced Tigrayans.
