Home Uncategorized Tsilal Civil Society of Western #Tigray Condemns ENDF for the Unconstitutional Designation...

Tsilal Civil Society of Western #Tigray Condemns ENDF for the Unconstitutional Designation of “Welkayt Tsegedes Setit Humera Zone,” Seeks Retraction

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Mekelle, December 2024 (Tigray Mass Media Agency) Tsilal Civil Society of Western Tigray, local civil society group focused on addressing challenging issues affecting the people of Western Tigray, issued a strongly worded letter to the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF), expressing its disappointment over the unconstitutional designation of “Welkayt Tsegedes Setit Humera Zone” on a social media platform managed by the institution.

In the letter, the civil society accused the ENDF of engaging in unlawful activities in collaboration with other forces, particularly in areas of Western Tigray under the control of Amhara forces. The group cited concerns about the ENDF’s alleged deviation from its constitutional mandate following the 2020 war.

The civil society highlighted a controversial statement published by the ENDF on its official Facebook page on February 11, 2024. According to the letter, the ENDF referred to an “imaginary” district named “Wolkait Tsegede Setit Humera Zone,” which, the society argues, does not exist in the constitutions of either the Tigray or Amhara regions as derived from Ethiopia’s national constitution.  The group called on the ENDF to retract this statement and provide clarity, emphasizing that such actions are harmful to national unity.

The letter further alleged that the ENDF has been involved in training militias from Amhara in Western Tigray, citing a December 21, 2024, Facebook post by the ENDF as evidence. The civil society claimed this act violates the Pretoria and Nairobi peace agreements, which mandated the withdrawal of non-ENDF forces and sought to restore Tigray’s territorial integrity to its pre-war status. “It is shameful to train and arm militants in Tigray’s territory instead of adhering to the agreements,” the letter stated.

The civil society voiced concerns over the impact of these actions on the 1.5 million displaced individuals from Western Tigray. The letter argued that renaming the area as “Wolkait Tsegede Setit Humera Zone” and arming militias accused of atrocities is a “heartbreaking” development for those seeking to return to their homes. “These actions betray the trust of the people and exacerbate tensions, jeopardizing the prospects for lasting peace,” the statement read.

The civil society urged the ENDF to use the original name “Western Tigray” and halt the training and arming of non-native forces. It argued that the security and peace of the region should be preserved by the native population rather than by external forces unfamiliar with the area.

The letter concluded by condemning what it described as discriminatory practices by the ENDF and calling for inclusive measures that promote trust and national unity. The ENDF has yet to respond to the allegations.