Addis Ababa, EVN (August 22) — Ethiopia’s Minister of Defense has ignited controversy with a statement posted on Facebook regarding the annual Ashenda celebration, predominantly observed among Tigrians. In his address, Belay delved into the ongoing displacement crisis and the disputed regions in Tigray, igniting discussions about constitutional rights, humanitarian concerns, and regional governance.
“In this regard, we will pay due attention in the coming days to resolving the constitutional and human rights of the displaced people in the shelters. We are vigorously working to return them to their homes and normal life in an organized manner. The residents of these areas will also be ensured a stable foundation for electing and governing their own leaders,” , Abraham Belay stated.
Expressing deep concern for the plight of those inhabiting shelters, Belay recognized the pressing need to address the current crisis. He underscored the questions raised by concerned individuals regarding the repatriation of people to their homeland, the establishment of a stable leadership, and the reparation of Tigray.
The minister said that efforts are in progress to resolve the disputed areas of Tigray through constitutional and legal means, aligned with the Pretoria Agreement.
Steps are being taken, according to the Minister, to guarantee the safety and tranquility of displaced individuals, in accordance with the federal government’s resolution. Furthermore, plans are underway for the repatriation of the displaced population and the formation of local administration to safeguard their constitutional rights.
Belay emphasized that the people’s demands will be assessed through a referendum process, conducted in alignment with the law and the country’s constitution. He firmly affirmed that the federal government will proactively uphold the rule of law and constitutional order through its initiatives.
In a recent development, on Sunday, June 4, 2023, the people of Wekait, Tegede, and Humera held a significant demonstration in defense of their right to identify as Amhara. The demonstrations took place peacefully in Seti-Humera, Dansha, and Remet towns.
Demonstrators rejected claims and misrepresentations propagated by The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), an armed insurgency responsible for atrocities and crimes across Ethiopia. Participants in the march displayed signs refuting the term “Western Tigray,” a label that never existed before the TPLF assumed power in 1991. Survivors of the TPLF’s thirty-year-long ethnic cleansing of Amhara from the region also joined the march. Notably, a considerable number of Welkait residents identify themselves as Amhara.
The minister concluded by underscoring the necessity of counteracting attempts to disrupt the peace process and called for unity in maintaining the nation’s trajectory towards stability.
Abraham Belay, at the helm of the Ministry of Defense, oversees the Ethiopian National Defense Force and Ethiopian Defense Industry. His Facebook statement has incited debate, particularly in light of the contentious area between Tigray and Amhara, where human rights violations have been documented. The region, now under its own administration, remains a focal point of dispute.
