Tigray Update

Want to know the truth about #WesternTigray? Study here, knowledge doesn't hurt. 🔗zenodo.org/record/7366764 Western #Tigray in 109 historical and 32 ethno-linguistic maps (1607-2014)

#Ethiopia: More than 330 IDPs reported dead in #Hitsats, 125 in #Adwa as coordinators warn of worsening humanitarian crisis At least 333 internally displaced persons (#IDPs) have died at the Hitsats center in Tigray since May 2025 due to hunger and lack of medicine, while in Adwa 125 people have died since October 2025. DPs and camp officials told Addis Standard that shrinking humanitarian assistance and continued new arrivals are pushing already vulnerable communities into what they describe as a life-threatening crisis, intensifying pressure on limited resources. Displaced residents and coordinators in Hitsats say the situation has further worsened, with rising fatalities, disease outbreaks, and reduced humanitarian support. “To speak of the conditions in Hitsats, one must see it with their own eyes,” said Abrha Mebrahtom, coordinator of the Hitsats IDP center. “Though there were good starts previously, they have now ceased. People are wasting away; people are dying.” “We want to return to our homes,” Tekle said, warning of growing concern as the rainy season approaches and calling for observers to witness conditions firsthand. The Commission of Inquiry on #Tigray Genocide (#CITG) cited findings from its August 2025 assessment of 92 IDP centers, including Hitsats. According to the Commission, 325 deaths occurred at Hitsats during the assessment period, primarily due to lack of food, medical care, and other basic necessities Read more: addisstandard.com/?p=55953

Women and girls across #Ethiopia continue to face conflict-related sexual violence, displacement and systemic discrimination. During #CSW70, civil society iscalling on the international community to take action. Read the joint letter: atrocitieswatch.org/publications/j…

Families of Tigrayans Killed, Burnt Alive Await Justice Four years after a gruesome video surfaced on social media showing nine ethnic #Tigray|an civilians being killed and burned — one of them burned alive — in Metekel by Ethiopian forces, there have been no arrests or charges.

Any hope for an international mediation effort to prevent the outbreak of hostilities between Tigray political authorities and the federal government of Ethiopia?

Picx from Axum LALIBELLA Ethiopia last week. At the Arch of the Covenant church. 🇪🇹. It's sad to see Ethiopian Christians living in endless wars that destabiliz the region Makin it hard for them to survive and protect these historical sites . The Fano's, are fighting the government to protect their holy sites. May God Jesus, Mary, keep them safe. Coz people are trying to minimize their rights and scared land, so its easy to steal it one day. I also saw outside of the Christian territory more Muslim and Christian camps of migrants from other places, the USAID had built shelters with tarpolin. They have around 150,000 people who depended on USAID it seems . It's been cut by 65%. people told me it's 4000 usd to build a real house. But in a way most of the population is living the same standard of living as the migrants in huts very similar . The real problem is millions died, and fought and can't recover because of covid right after then the Gov taxes them 150% on any import so they are frozen in time living off the land. Is this what happens to real places of truth. Why is this happening to fellow Christians? At the church said to hold the Arch of the Covenant, the monk guarding it, it is not allowed to even meet the president of Ethiopia, because everyone can be corrupt. An uncorruped Monk is the best thing I saw.

Aksum dominated the Horn of Africa during the first millennium A.D., one of the world’s great civilizations. Archaeologists are now working to understand the origins of the Aksumites and how they became among the first powers to adopt Christianity. archaeology.org/issues/july-au…

A few years ago, this firm went to war against the brutal and murderous regime of Prime Minister @AbiyAhmedAli over its war crimes against the #Tigrayan people. We raised alarm when Abiy turned his guns against the #Oromos and later against the #Amharas. We opposed Prime Minister Abiy again when he sought to gain access to the sea by unlawfully annexing @Somalia Now, reports indicate that Prime Minister #Abiy is contemplating military action against Eritrea. As our friend and former Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa, @RepJames, once stated, Prime Minister Abiy poses a threat to regional stability in the Horn of Africa, which in turn threatens global trade and U.S. strategic interests in the region. Eritrea is itself a country of concern, a rogue state controlled by a brutal dictator. Nevertheless, the @realDonaldTrump Administration and #Congress must not permit any unlawful invasion of #Eritrea. The adverse effects of such an action on U.S. national interests in the region would be devastating. @HouseForeignGOP @HouseForeign @SenateForeign @SFRCdems @HASCRepublicans @SASCGOP @StateDept @AsstSecStateAF @CNNAfrica @BBCAfrica @Reuters @AFP @PMEthiopia @nimaelbagir

News: #Tigray interim President warns current dispute could trigger war, endanger all of #Ethiopia A peaceful demonstration was held at the Baloni Stadium in #Mekelle city protesting the recent decision by Ethiopia’s House of Federation and the National #Electoral Board of Ethiopia. Addressing the rally, Lt. Gen. Tadesse Woreda, President of the Tigray Interim Administration, warned that an issue that should be resolved politically must not be allowed to escalate into armed conflict. Tadesse argued that the matter at hand is fundamentally political rather than legal. “This decision is not merely a matter for the House of Federation, the Ethiopian Election Board, or the law. It is political, and its solution must also be political,” he stated. Meanwhile, #TPLF chairman Debrestion Gebremichael (PhD) warned against what he described as a plot aimed at permanently disintegrating Tigray, calling on the public to remain united in defending the region’s interests. The rally, organized under the theme “Fight for National Existence,” is part of protests scheduled for today by the Tigray Interim Administration in various cities in the region. Like Mekelle’s, demonstrations also took place in other towns of the region. In #Alamata, one of the districts excluded from Tigray oversight by the House of Federation, large number of protesters gathered to oppose the decision by the House of Federation and the National Election Board. Read more: addisstandard.com/?p=55448

In Ethiopia's Tigray region, displaced people remain trapped in limbo as tensions between Addis Ababa and Eritrea escalate. While fragile calm holds in Mekelle, many in Tigray fear war could return at any moment. p.dw.com/p/59U92

Historical maps (e.g., Handtke 1849, Weiland 1841, and 165+ analyzed in Nyssen's 2023 Zenodo study) show Western Tigray/Welkait as part of Tigray territory for most periods 1700s–1930s/1941, not Begemdir. Raya/Azebo areas likewise Tigray-linked pre-1940s. Haile Selassie transferred Welkait to Begemdir/Gondar in 1944 (Raya parts to Wollo ~1942–57) as punishment after 1943 Woyane rebellion to weaken Tigray unity. Remained so until 1991. Data: zenodo.org/records/8173867; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welkait_q….

#Ethiopia: Tigray Trade and Export Agency says fuel supply to region completely cut off since January The #Tigray Trade and Export Agency has announced that #fuel supply to the Tigray region has been completely suspended since January, warning of severe disruptions to public services, infrastructure projects, and healthcare delivery. In a statement, reported by regional broadcaster Tigrai Tv, the agency said that the monthly supply of fuel and diesel to Tigray had already sharply declined in recent years, dropping from between 12 and 15 million liters per month to just 850,000 liters since February 2025. However, it noted that the supply has now been entirely halted since January 2026. According to the agency, the suspension has significantly affected the functioning of regular public and government services, as well as ongoing infrastructure works across the region. The agency further stated that rising inflation in goods and services has worsened the situation, making it increasingly difficult for communities to sustain their livelihoods. It added that several health institutions, including Ayder Referral Hospital, have been unable to provide both regular and emergency medical services due to fuel shortages. Read more: addisstandard.com/?p=55402

#Breaking: Fed. High Court temporarily suspends #NEBE announcement removing five electoral constituencies from #Tigray region overnight The Federal High Court has issued today 26 Februray 2026 a temporary injunction suspending the announcement by the National Election Board of #Ethiopia (NEBE), which reflected the decision by the House of Federation (#HoF) removing five electoral constituencies from Tigray regional state overnight, pending a full hearing. According to the court order, the injunction was issued in response to an application filed by the Tigray Democratic Solidarity (Simret Party), on 23 February, represented by Getachew Reda, against NEBE. The case, registered under File No. 351364, is being heard by a panel of judges comprising Seble Kinfe, Wondwosen Tadesse, and Ashenafi Werkneh. In its order, the court directed NEBE to formally respond to the applicant’s charges and supporting evidence noting that a summons would be issued to that effect. Crucially, the court ruled that the execution of NEBE’s decision which addressed the five electoral constituencies previously administered by the Tigray National Regional State would risk rendering the ongoing litigation ineffective. Read more: addisstandard.com/?p=55415

An imminent Ethiopian offensive against the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) would heighten the risk of a broader Ethiopian-Eritrean confrontation given Eritrea's reported support for the TPLF. The immediate aims of the Ethiopian federal government do not include an imminent invasion of Eritrea. More from CTP's @liam_karr ⬇️

There is no doubt that Western Tigray and Raya were administered under Begemdir/Gondar and Wello respectively from 1948/49 to 1991, but before that they were part of Tigray, surgically removed by order of Emperor Haile Selassie.

A good overview of how Ethiopia and Eritrea got to this dangerous point, and possible scenarios: thenewhumanitarian.org/analysis/2026/…

News: House of Federation removes five districts from #Tigray region oversight for upcoming 7th general elections #Ethiopia’s House of Federation has ordered that the upcoming federal parliamentary elections in five electoral districts previously under the Tigray regional state to be conducted outside the Tigray administration’s oversight until “ownership claim is resolved.” The decision was communicated to the National Election Board of Ethiopia (#NEBE) in a letter dated 3 February 2026, following NEBE’s publication in late January of electoral districts and polling stations for voter registration under the 7th General Election. The Board publicized the districts based on pre-war electoral constituency to announce voter registration preparations in polling stations in the #Humera electoral district in the Western Zone of Tigray, specifically within Setit Humera, Kafta Humera, and Wolkait woredas. Similarly, polling stations for the Adi Remets electoral district were listed by NEBE as being situated in Wolkait and Tsegede woredas of the same zone. However, in a statement released by NEBE today, the Board said the House of Federation (HoF) ruled that five “contested” electoral districts, namely, Humera and Adi Remets in western Tigray; Tselemti in northwestern Tigray; and Korem Ofla, and Raya Alamata in southern Tigray, will hold “direct parliamentary elections outside of the Tigray Region until the ownership claim is resolved.” In May last year, the President of the Tigray Interim Administration, Tadesse Werede, said that an estimated 40% of the Tigray region remains under the control of external forces, warning that restoring the region’s constitutional territorial integrity and ensuring the safe return of displaced Tigrayans were his administration’s top priorities. Read more: addisstandard.com/?p=55332

Some are asking why I wrote my appeal to peace in Amharic. I chose Amharic as it is the primary working language of Ethiopia and widely understood. Including all five working languages - Tigrigna, Amharic, Afaan Oromo, Somali, and Afar - would be beneficial. Here you go… ጦርነት ትርፉ ሞት፣ ጥፋት፣ መፈናቀልና ረሃብ ብቻ ነው! ፖለቲካዊ መፍትሄ ሁሌም አለ። እውነተኛ ጀግኖች ሰላምን ይመርጣሉ። ለሰላም ዕድል እንስጥ! 🕊️ ኲናት ትርፉ ሞት፣ ጥፍኣት፣ ምዝንባልን ጥሜትን ጥራይ እዩ! ፖለቲካዊ መፍትሒ ወትሩ ኣሎ። ናይ ሓቂ ጀጋኑ ሰላም ይመርፁ። ንሰላም ዕድል ንሃብ! 🕊️" Waraanni bu’aan isaa du’a, badii, buqqa’insaafi beela qofa! Furmaanni siyaasaa yoomiyyuu jira. Goonni dhugaan nagaa filata. Nagaadhaaf carraa haa kenninu! 🕊️ Dagaalku waxa laga dhaxlaa oo kaliya dhimasho, burbur, barakac iyo macaluul! Xal siyaasadeed mar walba waa uu jiraa. Geesiyaasha dhabta ahi waxay doortaan nabadda. Aan fursad siinno nabadda! 🕊️ Carbi dubuk rabaay, finqaay, dufuu kee qululu bahta! Umman way siyaasâ fidga tan. Numma agiira salaam doorita. Salaam saami nacay! 🕊️ Courage for Peace. Peace is the best medicine. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

News: #Tigray Interim Administration dismisses claims of #ENDF deployment, relocation to Northern Command camps The Tigray Interim Administration has dismissed as “completely false” reports circulating in recent days alleging that the federal government ordered the #Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) to enter Tigray and that the regional administration had agreed to the relocation of federal troops to former Northern Command camps. In a brief statement issued today, the Interim Administration described the claims as “misinformation and disinformation” intended to mislead the public and create unnecessary tension. “There are rumors in recent days that the federal government has ordered the Ethiopian Defense Forces to enter Tigray, and the Tigray Interim Administration has agreed for the forces to settle in the former camps of #Northern Command,” the statement said. “The source and the goal of this strategy of spreading such misinformation and disinformation in society are clear, but the information being spread is completely false.” These developments come against a backdrop of fresh indications of troop concentrations towards the Tigray Region. Agence France-Presse (AFP) cited a Western diplomatic source reporting that ENDF units and Tigrayan forces were massing along the border of the Tigray Region, raising fears of renewed confrontation. Read more: addisstandard.com/?p=55289

#Ethiopia faces renewed strain with #Tigray and #Eritrea Across the northern Tigray region, citizens are bearing the burden of political fractures and rising tensions. Diplomats are urging restraint amid a troop buildup along the borders with Tigray and neighboring Eritrea. A sense of anxiety is hard to miss in Tigray. Though the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement brought an end to fighting between the Ethiopian National Defense Force (#ENDF) and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (#TPLF), many in Tigray say life today is like walking on eggshells. The TPLF, once the dominant party in Ethiopia's ruling coalition (EPRDF) and the region's political anchor, has split into rival factions competing for influence, leaving residents unsure who truly speaks for them. The political division has created a vacuum. Meanwhile, Ethiopia's federal government accuses Eritrea of supporting the TPLF, an accusation the TPLF and Asmara deny. But among Tigrayans, it feels like the ghosts of war have not gone away. Multiple news outlets indicate that Ethiopian government soldiers and Tigrayan fighters have deployed along the Tigrayan region's northern border. "The situation is very frightening," Mustafa Abdu, a legal expert and political analyst based in Tigray's capital, Mekelle, said. "The federal defense forces are stationed at all borders. Therefore, there are indications that this [war] is inevitable," Abdu told DW, adding that according to the #Pretoria agreement, the federal government is responsible for protecting the borders. dw.com/en/ethiopia-fa…

Editorial: #Tigray at a Crossroads: Why political unity through #dialogue is no longer optional As Tigray marks the 51st anniversary of Yekatit 11, the beginning of its armed resistance, commemoration must do more than recall sacrifice. It must clarify direction. Recent public remarks by Lt.Gen. Tadesse Werede, President of the Tigray Interim Administration, and Dr. Debretsion Gebremichael, Chairman of the TPLF, reaffirm a central truth: safeguarding the survival and dignity of the Tigrayan people remains an enduring obligation. Today, that obligation demands political unity through dialogue. Pretoria was never an endpoint. It was a strategic turning point, one that disrupted the wartime alliance against Tigray, opened a pathway toward constitutional reintegration, and altered regional power dynamics. Its incomplete implementation, however, has prolonged hardship and left Tigray’s political future suspended within the federation. Today, the most acute danger is no longer external assault alone, but internal division that risks squandering gains secured at extraordinary cost. The past three years have demonstrated that fragmentation among Tigrayan political actors has deepened suffering and delayed recovery. History offers a clear lesson: when united, Tigray survived. The next chapter will not be secured by arms alone. It will be secured through political compromise, inclusive dialogue, and institutional legitimacy. addisstandard.com/?p=55276