These include the unresolved status of western and parts of southern Tigray that are still occupied by Amhara regional forces affiliated with the government, the withdrawal of Eritrean forces from northeastern parts of Tigray, and the delay in IDP returns. “While the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in November 2022 between the Ethiopian Government and the Tigrayans ended a two-year war, unresolved territorial issues could lead to a resumption of conflict,” the annual threat assessment report said. Furthermore, Tigrayan authorities reject plans for referendum after “a substantial influx of settlers has transpired” especially in western Tigray, and accused federal institutions of being “actively involved in demographic modifications.”“The feasibility of conducting a referendum is unattainable,” Getachew Reda, Tigray Interim Administration President, said. The State of Emergency was first declared in 03 August 2023 following a series of instability in the regional state that began with mass protests in several major cities against the federal government’s decision to reorganize regional special forces into regular police and the national army. The protests have quickly deteriorated to widespread clashes and instability and the subsequent assassination on 27 April of the Head of the ruling Prosperity Party in the region, Girma Yeshitila.

Source: Ethiopian News March 13, 2024 12:22 UTC