PUBLIC STATEMENT: THE ETHIOPIAN GOVERNMENT’S FAILURE TO IMPLEMENT THE PRETORIA AGREEMENT IS DRIVING INSTABILITY, INJUSTICE, AND THE RISK OF RENEWED CONFLICT IN TIGRAY

We, as Tigrayan Civil Society Organizations, are deeply alarmed by the Ethiopian federal government’s continued failure to fully implement the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA). This failure has become the central driver of the instability, human rights abuses, and political fragmentation plaguing Tigray today.

More than two years after the agreement was signed, the Ethiopian government has failed to meet its core obligations. Internally displaced Tigrayans remain unable to return to their homes, particularly in Western, Southern, and Northern Tigray, which are still under the control of Amhara regional forces and Eritrean troops. These occupying forces, which played a central role in the genocidal war against Tigrayans, continue to carry out grave abuses, including sexual violence, arbitrary arrests, abductions, torture, and land seizures. The government’s refusal to enforce the withdrawal of these forces directly violates the agreement and prolongs the suffering of displaced Tigrayans amid a humanitarian crisis. This selective and partial implementation of the Pretoria Agreement has left key issues unresolved—territorial occupation, forced displacement, and lack of justice—creating fertile ground for division and instability within Tigray. In recent weeks, the region has experienced alarming political turmoil, including the alleged use of force to seize public offices and reported human rights violations against civilians requiring investigation.

Additionally, Tigrayan officials over the last two years have failed to assert the Pretoria Agreement’s core demands, instead deflecting responsibility and downplaying the ongoing occupation of Tigrayan territories. This failure of leadership, compounded by the federal government’s inaction, has fueled internal fragmentation and deepened the crisis. The recent increased tensions are not isolated incidents, but symptoms of a broader collapse of political will to protect the rights and interests of the Tigrayan people. The federal government’s broken promises have not only left Tigray vulnerable but have also eroded faith in peace and governance.

Complicating matters is the presence and involvement of Eritrea in Tigray. We categorically reject any interference by the Government of Eritrea in the internal affairs of Tigray. Eritrea was a key perpetrator in the genocide against Tigrayans and continues to be a major destabilizing force through its occupation of Irob and other northern areas along the border with Eritrea. Its presence not only violates the Pretoria Agreement but actively obstructs peace and recovery.

The threat of renewed conflict also remains dangerously real. The growing tensions between the Ethiopian and Eritrean governments risk escalating into a broader military conflict. Any renewed war between these two states would have devastating consequences for Tigray, which remains militarily weakened, politically divided, and under foreign occupation. The people of Tigray must not be made to suffer once again as collateral in a conflict they did not choose. It would be catastrophic for a region still reeling from the devastating 2020–2022 war and enduring a silent genocide and humanitarian crisis. Peace cannot be built on unstable foundations, and the failure to address the root causes of the conflict risks plunging Tigray back into violence. Preventing another war requires urgent diplomacy, restraint, and are commitment to peace by all parties.

While we place primary responsibility on the Ethiopian government for failing to uphold the agreement, we also call on all segments of Tigray’s leadership to recognize the existential threats facing the region and to rise above internal divisions. We urge them to prioritize the rights, safety, and dignity of the Tigrayan people and to recommit to peace, unity, and accountability.

The only path forward is a full and just implementation of the Pretoria Agreement, which must include:

The immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all occupying forces from Tigrayan territory, including Amhara militias and Eritrean troops.
The safe, voluntary, and dignified return of all internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Urgent humanitarian intervention to address the suffering of displaced communities and provide safe and dignified pathways for their return.
A credible justice process for the crimes committed during the genocidal war.
Transparent political dialogue and inclusive governance led by and for the people of Tigray.
Independent international oversight to ensure compliance and protect human rights.

The people of Tigray deserve peace, justice, and the right to live free from occupation and fear. The Pretoria Agreement promised that future—its full implementation is the only way to make it real.

Signatories: