Tigray Urges Ethiopia to Implement Pretoria Agreement

The Tigray interim administration has called on the federal government to guarantee the safe and dignified return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and to protect the region’s territorial integrity, as stipulated in the Pretoria Agreement. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Bureau of Communication Affairs of Tigray emphasized that both the return of IDPs and the security of Tigray’s land can only be achieved through full implementation of the agreement. The administration accused the federal government of delaying the deal’s execution, which was signed three years ago to end the 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 to the mediators of the Pretoria peace process to ensure the safe return of displaced persons, who have endured five years of harsh conditions.

The statement follows discussions between federal and regional officials in Humera about plans to facilitate the return of displaced people. Participants included Mohammed Idris, Minister of Peace, and Getachew Reda, the Prime Minister’s Advisor for East African Affairs. While stressing the need to bring innocent citizens home, the officials also noted that individuals accused of 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 of failing to implement key provisions of the Pretoria Agreement concerning 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 without the administration’s involvement could reignite conflict.

The Tigray opposition party, Salsay Weyane Tigray, has likewise accused the federal government of neglecting its responsibility to ensure a 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 underscores the need for a comprehensive, inclusive approach to address the complex issues surrounding IDP returns and the protection of Tigray’s territorial integrity.