Mekelle፡Addis Abab,Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Tigray Herald).
Armed Attack on Opposition Party HQ Sparks Outcry in Mekelle.
Masked men storm Tigray Democratic Solidarity office amid political crackdown fears
By staff writer
An armed group of masked men stormed the headquarters of the Tigray Democratic Solidarity party (SOLIDARITY) in Mekelle on Tuesday afternoon, in what party leaders describe as a politically motivated and unlawful act aimed at silencing emerging opposition voices.
According to eyewitnesses and a public statement issued by the party, five unidentified assailants entered the party’s main office at approximately 4:45 PM local time. The attackers forcibly removed party banners and threatened the owner of the buioding before vacating the premises.
The assault came just weeks after the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) officially authorized SOLIDARITY to expand its activities across the region. In an official letter dated 17 June 2025, NEBE instructed the Tigray Interim Administration to facilitate the party’s registration and organizational efforts throughout the region a move seen by many as a signal of Ethiopia’s gradual return to pluralistic politics following the devastating two-year civil war.
“This was an act of political intimidation,” a senior SOLIDARITY member Teame Aradom in his verified facebook account. “It was meant to send a message that anyone who challenges the political status quo in Tigray will be punished.”
The party has since taken to social media, condemning the attack in strong terms and calling it a “flagrant violation of the rule of law.” In its statement, SOLIDARITY said, “The illegal action carried out at the highest level reflects a systematic effort to undermine political pluralism in Tigray. We call on our members and supporters to stand firm and defend their democratic rights.”
There has been no official response from the Tigray Interim Administration or regional police forces regarding the incident, and no arrests have been made. The silence has fueled speculation among political observers and rights groups about whether the assault was sanctioned or at least tolerated by factions within the regional leadership.
Political tensions in Tigray have escalated in recent months, as new parties attempt to re-enter the political arena following the Pretoria peace agreement, which ended the war between federal forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). While some progress has been made, including the lifting of bans on certain parties, activists argue that remnants of authoritarian control persist within the region’s interim structures.
Human rights advocates say the incident is emblematic of a broader crackdown on dissent in Tigray and across Ethiopia.
“It’s deeply troubling that political violence and intimidation are still being used to shape the post-conflict landscape,” said a representative of a local civic organization monitoring political freedoms. “If this continues unchecked, it risks undermining the fragile gains of peace and reconciliation.”
SOLIDARITY has vowed to continue its political engagement despite the threats, insisting that democratic participation is “not a privilege but a right.”
As of Tuesday evening, the NEBE had not issued a public comment on the incident.
This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.
