Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Tigray Herald).
GSTS Holds High-Level Talks with Tigray Interim President General Tadesse Werede
The Global Society of Tigray Scholars and Professionals (GSTS) has held a lengthy and high-level engagement with General Tadesse Werede, President of the Tigray Interim Administration (TIA), to discuss pressing issues affecting the region, including peace, displacement, governance, and institutional integrity.
The three-hour meeting covered a wide range of topics, with GSTS expressing concern over the challenges facing the interim administration and urging swift action to reinforce its institutional independence, reduce political and military interference, and prioritize the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees.
The scholars emphasized that preventing the recurrence of war must be a top priority, warning that holding the people of Tigray hostage in a climate of fear would be a betrayal. They called for peace, recovery, unity, and justice as the core aspirations of Tigrayans and denounced any group attempting to derail this through war rhetoric or militarization of politics.
A key issue raised was the condition of Tigrayan armed forces known as “Hara Meret,” with GSTS urging reconciliation and warning against the long-term damage of internal conflict. The organization also called for the recognition and empowerment of the Tigray Interim Council (TIC) as a legitimate and inclusive political body, stressing the urgency of restoring it as a mechanism for stability and accountability.
Illegal gold mining in Northwestern Tigray was another major concern. Despite previous directives by the President to halt operations, illegal activities continue unchecked. The use of toxic chemicals like mercury and cyanide was flagged as a health and environmental crisis requiring urgent intervention.
Regarding the Endowment Fund for the Rehabilitation of Tigray (EFFORT), GSTS criticized its current lack of transparency and political entanglement. It called for the fund to be fully removed from party control and placed under an independent body accountable to the people through the TIC.
GSTS reaffirmed its commitment to engaging with the Ethiopian federal government, the Tigrayan public, and international partners to prevent renewed conflict. It urged all parties to exercise restraint, avoid war rhetoric, and engage in constructive dialogue to resolve disputes peacefully.
Finally, GSTS called on the international community to increase pressure on all actors to protect peace in Tigray and the Horn of Africa, warning that renewed violence would have regional consequences.
The meeting ended with shared understanding and commitments to pursue concrete measures to advance peace, stability, and justice for Tigray.
