According to a memo from the Ethiopia Health Cluster, Eritrean troops have been abducting farmers and stealing hundreds of livestock in the border regions of Ethiopia's Tigray region. This comes 15 months after a cease-fire was declared, marking the end of a civil war in the area. The memo, based on assessments conducted by U.N. agencies and non-governmental organizations, reveals multiple instances of kidnapping and livestock raiding by Eritrean forces.
The memo, prepared on January 31, highlights specific incidents where farmers and their animals were targeted. On January 22, eight herders along with their donkeys and camels were abducted. Another incident on December 6 involved the abduction of six individuals along with 56 livestock. Additionally, on December 5, Eritrean soldiers stole 100 animals. Yemane Gebremeskel, Eritrea's information minister, has vehemently denied these allegations, dismissing them as false.
The document also notes that portions of the two border districts are either fully occupied or patrolled by Eritrean military forces. This means that people who were displaced as a result of the conflict are unable to return to their homes and cultivate their land. Furthermore, the Ethiopia Health Cluster memo indicates that in many areas, the federal military of Ethiopia has no presence and therefore fails to protect the local population.
In addition to the abductions and theft, the memo reveals dire humanitarian conditions in the region. It reports at least 50 deaths due to starvation in the subdistricts of Shimblina and Ademeyti, which are also grappling with drought and limited access for humanitarian organizations. The situation has raised concerns about the potential for a full-blown famine, prompting authorities in Tigray to issue warnings.
Eritrea played a significant role as an ally to the Ethiopian government during the two-year war against the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the former ruling party in Tigray. Eritrean troops have been accused of egregious human rights abuses, including massacres of civilians and sexual enslavement.
The peace deal that ended the conflict in November 2022 stipulated the withdrawal of foreign troops from the Tigray region. However, Eritrea, not being a signatory to the agreement, continues to occupy several areas along the Ethiopian border, which remains one of the most contested frontiers in the world. On the anniversary of the cease-fire, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for Eritrean troops to withdraw, emphasizing the need for additional actions to ensure lasting peace and stability in Tigray.
Despite the end of the war, the implementation of the cease-fire has been slow and challenging. Transitional justice for war crimes has made little progress, and a disarmament program for hundreds of thousands of former rebels is yet to commence. Recognizing the urgency, the TPLF has called on the international community to support the implementation of the peace agreement. In response, the Ethiopian federal government announced that funds have been pledged to fulfill its commitments.
In the aftermath of the Tigray conflict, violence has erupted in the neighboring state of Amhara, where the government is currently battling a military group that had previously aligned with it against the TPLF. As a result, Ethiopia's federal parliament has voted to extend the state of emergency, which was initially implemented in August to quell the unrest.
The situation in Tigray remains precarious, with ongoing reports of abductions, livestock theft, and dire humanitarian conditions. Efforts by the international community, Ethiopia, and Eritrea are needed to address these issues and ensure the stability and well-being of the people in the region.
