Tigray Interim Administration Urges Federal Government to Ensure Safe Return of IDPs
The Tigray interim administration has called on the federal government to guarantee the safe and dignified return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and protect the region’s territorial integrity, in accordance with the Pretoria Agreement. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Bureau of Communication Affairs of Tigray emphasized that the return of IDPs and the security of Tigray’s land can only be achieved through the implementation of the agreement.
The administration accused the federal government of delaying the full execution of the deal, which was signed three years ago to end the devastating two-year war. The Bureau warned that any attempt by the federal government to return IDPs without the consent of the people, the Tigray Interim Administration, or the negotiating bodies is unacceptable. It appealed to the international community and mediators of the Pretoria peace process to ensure the safe return of displaced persons, who have been suffering for five years in harsh conditions.
The statement comes after federal and regional officials held discussions in Humera on plans to facilitate the return of displaced people. The meeting included officials such as Mohammed Idris, Minister of Peace, and Getachew Reda, the Prime Minister’s Advisor for East African Affairs. While emphasizing the need for the return of innocent citizens, the officials stressed that individuals accused of committing crimes against the public must be held legally accountable.
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has previously accused the federal government of “political deception” and failing to implement key provisions of the Pretoria Agreement regarding the return of IDPs from Western Tigray. In August, Lt. Gen. Tadesse Werede, President of Tigray’s Interim Administration, warned that attempts to facilitate the return of IDPs without resolving constitutional questions and working behind the administration could reignite conflict.
The Tigray opposition party, Salsay Weyane Tigray, has also accused the federal government of neglecting its responsibility to ensure the safe and voluntary return of Tigrayan IDPs and refugees, while allowing individuals implicated in crimes against humanity to continue exercising authority in Western Tigray. The situation highlights the need for a comprehensive and inclusive approach to address the complex issues surrounding the return of IDPs and the protection of Tigray’s territorial integrity.