Defence Minister Abraham Belay's comments are the government's clearest to date on its plans for the disputed territory, fertile farmlands officially known as Western Tigray where some of the most intense fighting of the war took place. Most of those who fled the disputed area identify as Tigrayan, while the territory is currently governed by Amhara forces and administrators. The federal constitution, which was drafted by a former Tigrayan-led federal administration in 1995, recognises the lands as belonging to Tigray. Tens of thousands of people were killed in the Tigray war, which ended with a peace deal between the government and Tigrayan leaders last November. Amhara nationalists complained they were not included in the negotiations and felt betrayed by the deal's stipulation that the status of the disputed lands be resolved in accordance with the 1995 constitution.

Source: Ethiopian News August 22, 2023 15:36 UTC