Tigrayan refugees who fled to Sudan to escape the war in Tigray held a peaceful demonstration at the Tenedba refugee camp on Monday, calling for immediate action to improve their dire situation. Since the outbreak of the conflict in Tigray in November 2020, over 70,000 Tigrayans have sought refuge in Sudan, with many residing in camps such as Tenedba and Um Rakuba. During the demonstration, refugees raised concerns over deteriorating health conditions, widespread malnutrition, and the increasing risk of death among camp residents, particularly children and the elderly.
The demonstrators urged the relevant authorities with in the Ethiopian government, including regional and international stakeholders, to fully implement the Pretoria peace agreement, which was signed in November 2022 to bring an end to the war. They emphasized that without swift action, their return to their homeland remains uncertain, prolonging their suffering.
“Millions of people in Tigrai are scattered everywhere looking for shelter in camps, and those under invading forces are forced to change their identity, while those in IDP camps are dying of hunger” TPLF highlights on the statement. The party says it is implementing its expectations properly while denouncing the federal government’s failure to act accordingly.
“Invading forces were supposed to withdraw from Tigrai, but they haven’t been withdrawn.” TPLF noted. TPLF urges the federal government, the AU, the US, the EU, IGAD, the international Media and Rights’ organizations to maintain the progress achieved through the Pretoria Agreement and strive for undertaking their moral and legal obligations to ensure the full implementation of the agreement.TPLF reiterates its call for the federal government to strive for the full implementation of the Pretoria agreement and free the constitutionally recognized Tigrain territories from invading forces.
It also asked the federal government to return the IDPs to their homes and reinstate TPLF’s legal personality immediately. The party says the denial and the delay of the party’s reinstatement is unconstitutional and violates the terms of agreement in the Pretoria peace deal that it says was signed while the whole world watching.TPLF says declining its legal personality directly endangers the term of the IRA that was formed months ago according to the agreement.Recognizing the commitment of the international community in bringing the issue of Tigrai to attention on the UN Security Council General assembly frequently, the party on the other side slams the failure to extend the mandate of the ICHREE that was meant to facilitate independent investigation and reveal credible findings on the ground.TPLF believes this is not an exemplary precedent as it paves the way for the extension of further genocide.