Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London,April 4፡2025 (Tigray Herald)
The Betrayal of Manbere Selama: How Tigray’s Orthodox Church Leaders Abandoned Their Moral Duty
Introduction:
A Beacon of Hope Turned Political Tool Manbere Selama (Tigray Orthodox
Tewahedo Church) has long been a pillar of spiritual guidance, cultural preservation, and ethical authority for the people of Tigray. Declaring autocephaly on May 7, 2021, in response to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church’s silence during the Tigray genocide, the Tigrayan Orthodox leadership was initially hailed as an independent institution that could stand as the voice of the voiceless. However, reality has starkly diverged from these expectations. Instead of
championing justice, the church’s leadership, particularly Archbishop Abune Salama, has
compromised its moral duty by aligning with TPLF’s political failures and militias that now
oppress the very people they claim to represent.
Moral Hypocrisy:
Silence in the Face of Homegrown Atrocities
While the Ethiopian Orthodox Church was rightly criticized for its silence during the genocide,the Tigray Orthodox Synod now finds itself guilty of the same moral failure. Why have the archbishops remained mute as TPLF militias engage in systematic repression against Tigrayans? The so-called guardians of faith have become accomplices in silence while:
Young Tigrayan men and women are being arbitrarily detained, beaten, and terrorized by TPLF militias in urban centers.
The Tigray Interim Government, struggling to stabilize the region, faces sabotage from these religious-political actors who should be advocating peace and justice.
Illegal gold mining operations, run by TPLF-aligned militias, devastate local communities,displacing families and destroying the environment—yet the church remains silent. Where is the voice of moral authority that once guided the people? Where are the bishops when their flock suffers at the hands of those they once opposed?
Abune Salama:
A Religious Leader Turned Political Mouthpiece
Instead of acting as a moral compass, Abune Salama has become a tool of political
manipulation. His actions mirror those of the Ethiopian Orthodox leadership he once
condemned, making him guilty of the same ideological corruption: 1. Political Infiltration – Using religious authority to advance TPLF’s failed political agenda rather than prioritizing the well-being of Tigrayans.
- Selective Outrage – Condemning external atrocities but remaining silent on internal
repression.
3. Undermining Justice – Failing to hold accountable those who exploit and terrorize innocent civilians under the guise of governance.
Critical Questions for the Manbere Selama Archbishops
The people of Tigray deserve answers. We ask:
Where were you when young Tigrayans were being kidnapped, beaten, and tortured for
resisting militia control?
Where are your voices when Tigrayan civilians are forced to surrender their livelihoods to
TPLF-affiliated criminal networks?
Where is your moral authority when entire communities are being displaced for illegal gold mining operations orchestrated by the very forces you align with?
If you condemned the Ethiopian Orthodox Church for its complicity in genocide, how do you justify your silence now?
Have you abandoned your duty to God and the people in exchange for political favors and power?
Conclusion:
The Urgent Need for Religious Integrity
The Manbere Selama leadership faces a defining moment. Either it restores its credibility by standing with the suffering people of Tigray, or it fully cements its role as a political extension of a failed movement. The hypocrisy must end. True faith demands justice, and true leadership demands accountability. The people of Tigray will not remain silent while their so-called religious
leaders betray them.
Horn of Africa Geopolitical Review – Analysis by Leading Regional and International Political and Security Experts
The document delivers a strong critique of the Tigray Orthodox Church leadership, highlighting their silence in the face of TPLF’s internal oppression and questioning their moral authority
