Mekelle, February 28፡2025 (Tigray Herald)
Written by Batseba Seifu
The Forceful and Illegal Occupation of Western Tigray by Amhara Forces: A Violation of Human Rights and International Law
The ongoing forceful, illegal occupation of Western Tigray by Amhara forces remains one of the most significant obstacles to lasting peace in Ethiopia. Despite the signing of the Pretoria Peace Agreement in November 2022, which sought to restore constitutional order and protect human rights in Tigray, Amhara forces continue to control the region illegally. This occupation has led to the forced displacement of nearly one million Tigrayans, systematic ethnic cleansing, and an ongoing humanitarian crisis (The New Humanitarian, 2023). The failure to resolve this territorial dispute and enforce the withdrawal of Amhara forces undermines the prospects for sustainable peace and justice.
Historical Context and Amhara Expansionism
Western Tigray, a fertile and strategically significant region bordering Sudan, has long been recognized as part of Tigray under Ethiopia’s federal structure. However, Amhara nationalists have laid claim to the area, despite historical evidence confirming its Tigrayan identity. This territorial claim is not new; it reflects a broader expansionist agenda that dates back to the reign of Emperor Menelik II, who integrated Tigrayan territories into Amhara-administered provinces to consolidate power (Omna Tigray, 2023).
During the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie (1930–1974), this policy of territorial annexation continued, particularly following the suppression of the First Woyane rebellion in 1943. Haile Selassie annexed parts of Southern and Western Tigray into Amharic-speaking provinces, further eroding Tigray’s territorial integrity (Omna Tigray, 2023). The Derg regime (1974–1991) maintained these annexations until the fall of the military government, after which the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) successfully restored the region’s rightful status as part of Tigray.
The Role of Amhara Forces in the Tigray Genocidal War
The genocidal war launched against Tigray on November 4, 2020, by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government provided Amhara forces with the opportunity to assert their territorial claims. Alongside the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) and Eritrean forces, Amhara militias carried out large-scale atrocities in Western Tigray, including mass killings, forced displacements, and ethnic cleansing of Tigrayans (Omna Tigray, 2023). Reports indicate that the primary motive behind Amhara forces’ involvement was to permanently annex Western Tigray and control its rich agricultural resources, particularly sesame production, which generates significant export revenue for Ethiopia (Omna Tigray, 2023).
The New Humanitarian (2023) reported that Amhara forces and affiliated militia groups systematically expelled Tigrayans from Western Tigray, often through violent means, including killings, sexual violence, and arbitrary detention. The atrocities committed during this occupation have been described by international human rights organizations as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Humanitarian Crisis and the Failure of the Pretoria Agreement
The Pretoria Peace Agreement, signed on November 2, 2022, stipulated the withdrawal of all non-federal forces from Tigray, including Amhara militias and Eritrean troops (International Crisis Group, 2023). However, nearly two years later, Amhara forces continue to occupy Western Tigray, in direct violation of the agreement. This failure to enforce the withdrawal has left nearly one million displaced Tigrayans in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions in eastern and central Tigray, with no possibility of returning to their homes (The New Humanitarian, 2023).
Furthermore, the humanitarian situation in Tigray has been exacerbated by the Ethiopian government’s continued denial of the humanitarian crisis and obstruction of humanitarian access (LSE Africa Blog, 2024).
Systematic Ethnic Cleansing and Violations of Human Rights
Multiple reports have documented the systematic ethnic cleansing of Tigrayans in Western Tigray. The New Humanitarian (2023) and Omna Tigray (2023) describe how Amhara authorities have imposed policies that prevent Tigrayans from returning to their homes, including land redistribution schemes that permanently displace Tigrayan communities. Arbitrary arrests, torture, and disappearances of Tigrayans who remain in the occupied areas have been widely reported.
The LSE Africa Blog (2024) further highlights that arbitrary arrests of Tigrayans continue across Ethiopia, reflecting a broader pattern of persecution that extends beyond Western Tigray. Tigrayan artists, intellectuals, and festival attendees have been detained under vague accusations, reinforcing the Ethiopian government’s strategy of silencing dissent and erasing Tigrayan identity.
International Response and the Need for Justice
Despite clear evidence of ethnic cleansing and violations of the Pretoria Peace Agreement, the international response has been largely inadequate. The failure of the United Nations, African Union, and Western governments to enforce the agreement and hold Amhara forces accountable has emboldened the perpetrators of these crimes (LSE Africa Blog, 2024).
For peace to be achieved, the following steps must be taken:
• Immediate Withdrawal of Amhara Forces: The Ethiopian government must be pressured to comply with the Pretoria Agreement and ensure the full withdrawal of Amhara forces from Western and Southern Tigray.
• Humanitarian Access and Aid: The international community must demand unrestricted humanitarian access to all areas of Tigray, particularly for displaced populations.
• Accountability for War Crimes: Independent investigations must be conducted into the war crimes and ethnic cleansing in Western Tigray, with perpetrators facing prosecution.
• Restoration of Displaced Tigrayans: Mechanisms must be established to facilitate the safe return of displaced Tigrayans to their homes, with guarantees of security and restitution for lost property.
Conclusion
The illegal occupation of Western Tigray by Amhara forces is a direct violation of Ethiopia’s federal constitution, international human rights law, and the Pretoria Peace Agreement. The continued displacement, ethnic cleansing, and humanitarian suffering of Tigrayans demand urgent international attention. Without decisive action to enforce withdrawal, provide justice for victims, and ensure humanitarian relief, Ethiopia’s path to lasting peace will remain elusive. The world must not turn a blind eye to this ongoing atrocity.
References
• International Crisis Group. (2023). Turning the Pretoria Deal into Lasting Peace in Ethiopia. Retrieved from https://www.crisisgroup.org/africa/horn-africa/ethiopia/turning-pretoria-deal-lasting-peace-ethiopia
• LSE Africa Blog. (2024). The Pretoria Peace Agreement Brought Broken Promises and Unfulfilled Hope to Tigray. Retrieved from https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/2024/04/24/the-pretoria-peace-agreement-brought-broken-promises-and-unfulfilled-hope-to-tigray/
• Omna Tigray. (2023). Amhara Annexation of Western Tigray. Retrieved from https://omnatigray.org/slide-deck/amhara-annexation-of-western-tigray/
• The New Humanitarian. (2023). Unresolved Status of Western Tigray Puts Ethiopia’s Peace Deal at Risk. Retrieved from https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feature/2023/09/26/unresolved-status-western-tigray-ethiopia-peace-deal
