Mekelle, Tigray – February 18, 2025 – The Alliance of Tigrayans for National Redemption (ATNR) strongly criticized recent comments by H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo during a high-level discussion on the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA).
The alliance, comprising the Tigray Independence Party (TIP), National Congress of Great Tigray (Baytona), and Arena Tigray for Democracy and Sovereignty (Arena), labeled Obasanjo’s suggestion that occupied territories remain neutral until a resolution is reached as “misleading and unjust.”
The ATNR stated that the CoHA’s core objectives are to restore constitutional order, ensure the safe return of internally displaced persons (IDPs), and achieve lasting peace. It argued that Obasanjo’s remarks contradict these goals and could exacerbate Tigray’s humanitarian crisis.
The alliance also referenced Obasanjo’s controversial legacy in the Biafra conflict, accusing him of siding with the Ethiopian federal government, which it holds responsible for atrocities in Tigray. The ATNR warned that Tigray is not Biafra and pledged to resist any attempts to impose similar injustices on the region.
The ATNR firmly rejected efforts to legitimize the occupation of Tigrayan territories and called on the international community, CoHA mediators, and global stakeholders to uphold justice, ensure the full implementation of the peace agreement, and hold violators accountable. It emphasized that the occupation must not be normalized and that Tigray’s rights must be safeguarded.
The statement concluded with a call for a renewed commitment to resolving the conflict in a manner that respects Tigray’s sovereignty and addresses the grievances of its people.
