Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Tigray Herald).
Raya Defies Militarization: Mekoni Erupts in Protest Against TPLF-Backed Takeover
By Staff Writer
Public outrage continues to swell in Southern Tigray as thousands of residents in Mekoni have taken to the streets, voicing their firm opposition to what they call a military-backed dismantling of the locally elected Raya administration. The protests come in response to renewed attempts by General Tadesse Werede and his military leadership under the Tigray Interim Administration to assert control over the Southern Zone.
Footage emerging from Mekoni shows crowds chanting slogans demanding self-governance, with many holding signs that read “Raya shall govern Raya” and “Down with forced rule.” Protesters accuse the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) of attempting to suppress the will of the people through armed intervention, a tactic they say mirrors the group’s oppressive governance during its 30-year rule.
“TPLF is not our representative,” said a protester who asked to remain anonymous. “They militarized every corner of our zone and now try to remove our peaceful administration by force. But we will not let it happen.”
Demonstrations have not been limited to Mekoni and Maichew. Parallel protests and peaceful gatherings will be held in several towns across the Southern Zone of Tigray, including Alamata, and Ofla, Addishihu,Bora Chelena,all in defense of what residents call “the legitimate Raya Administration” a local leadership they say reflects the will of the people.
Activists accuse the so-called “Above Core” a term used to describe the military and political elite around the Interim Administration of ignoring constitutional mandates and the Pretoria Agreement by resorting to undemocratic means to enforce their authority.
Local sources confirm that despite threats and military presence, the Raya administration remains intact in many areas, operating with the continued support of local communities. Citizens have vowed to defend their autonomy peacefully and are calling on the federal government and international bodies to intervene and halt the TPLF’s militarized interference.
“The people of Raya want peace, not bullets. We want elections, not impositions,” one community elder told our reporters.
As tensions mount, the question of Raya’s right to self-governance is once again at the heart of the political crisis in Tigray raising concerns about the fragile peace and the true intentions behind the power restructuring in the region.
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