Ethiopia’s Prolonged Tigrayan Displacement Crisis Spurs Protests Ahead of Fifth Rainy Season
As Ethiopia approaches its fifth consecutive rainy season with hundreds of thousands of Tigrayan internally displaced persons (IDPs) still living in precarious conditions, mounting frustration is sparking planned protests in Mekelle and Geneva from June 18 to 20, 2025. Organized by the Tsilal Western Tigray Civil Society under the banner “Enough of Spending Rainy Seasons in Tents,” these demonstrations highlight the urgency of resolving one of the most protracted displacement crises in the region.
The ongoing humanitarian emergency reveals deep challenges in the implementation of the Pretoria Agreement, signed in late 2022 to end hostilities and facilitate the safe return of displaced populations. Despite promises, displaced Tigrayans remain scattered across nearly 100 makeshift camps in northern Ethiopia, enduring dire living conditions marked by inadequate shelter, food shortages, and limited medical care.
Local officials and humanitarian actors report alarming trends. In Shire alone, nearly 300 deaths occurred in a single IDP center over three months, primarily due to hunger and lack of access to health services. These figures underscore the critical vulnerabilities faced by displaced populations—especially children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses—while raising urgent questions about the effectiveness of aid delivery and security guarantees.
Efforts by the Tigray interim administration to prioritize the return of IDPs, including public acknowledgment of the crisis by President Tadesse, have thus far been hampered by persistent insecurity and logistical setbacks. A previous attempt last year to return a group of IDPs to Tselemti resulted in re-displacement, highlighting the fragile nature of progress and the failure to provide sustainable support post-return.
Western Tigray, in particular, continues to grapple with the scars of a brutal two-year conflict, including documented crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing, which have deepened mistrust and complicated repatriation efforts. The protracted displacement crisis is both a symptom and consequence of these unresolved conflicts.
The upcoming protests aim to pressure the Ethiopian federal government, signatories of the Pretoria Agreement, and the international community to act decisively before the onset of the harsh winter season. Holding demonstrations simultaneously in Mekelle, the regional capital, and Geneva, home to key international organizations, reflects a strategy to amplify voices locally and globally.
These protests mark a critical moment in the ongoing struggle of displaced Tigrayans to secure basic rights, dignity, and a permanent return to their homes. Without urgent and coordinated interventions, the humanitarian crisis risks worsening as vulnerable populations face yet another rainy season in tents.
