June 5, 2025
Getahun Tsegaye
Staff Reporter
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The Telemt Amhara Identity and Border Restoration Committee issued a strong statement today, warning that the “illegal and belligerent TPLF group” is preparing for renewed armed conflict in northern Ethiopia.
The Committee accused the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) of violating the terms of the 2022 Pretoria Agreement and engaging in aggressive activities in the contested region of Telemt—territory claimed by both the Tigray and Amhara regional states.
In its statement, the Committee condemned what it called “preparatory military deployments” by TPLF forces in several areas, including Sheraro, Dedebit, Derba Abay, Adigebru, and Zana. It also cited ongoing cross-border activity in places such as Telemt Berha and Arma Dega. “We strongly oppose the preparation of the belligerent and illegal TPLF group for another bloody war,” the Committee stated, accusing the group of orchestrating abductions, theft, and violence—particularly in gold mining zones such as Mezker, Ambel, and May Teklit.
The Committee further claimed that the TPLF, despite being stripped of its political party status by the National Election Board of Ethiopia on May 14, 2025, continues to function as an armed political force. “The group is clearly violating the Pretoria Agreement, which requires full disarmament and integration of combatants into rehabilitation camps,” it said. “They are sheltering troops and carrying out identity-based abuses against the local population.”
Telemt is one of several strategically important areas—including Wolkait and Tsegede—that have been at the center of long standing territorial and identity disputes between the Tigray and Amhara regions. For nearly 30 years, the TPLF governed Ethiopia under EPRDF coalition, a period during which many Amhara activists and human rights defenders allege that ethnic Amharas in Telemt were forcibly annexed, marginalized, and displaced.
According to an indigenous person and long-term resident of the area, who identified himself as ‘Abayneh,’ told Borkena that the people of Telemt lived under an “apartheid-like regime” during this time.
Following the outbreak of the civil war in 2020, Amhara regional forces seized control of much of the contested territory, including Telemt. Although the Pretoria Agreement brought an end to open hostilities, the status of Telemt remains unresolved, and local Amhara communities continue to press for recognition of their identity and administrative autonomy.
Earlier, Borkena reported renewed tensions between the Amhara and Tigray regional states over the highly contested Wolkait-Tsegede-Setit Humera administrative zone. On April 16, the Amhara Media Corporation covered a military-style graduation ceremony in the disputed area, attended by senior officials including Zone Chief Administrator Ashete Demlew and Colonel Demeke Zewdu. The training was reportedly designed to bolster leadership and peace enforcement capabilities.
The event was laden with political symbolism, strongly asserting Wolkait’s identity as part of the Amhara region. Colonel Demeke—an influential figure in the Wolkait movement—emphasized the need to organize and arm local leaders to “resist subjugation” and defend “our identity.”
The Tigray Regional Government interpreted the ceremony and its messaging as a violation of Ethiopia’s constitutional order and the Pretoria Agreement, which ended the federal conflict with the TPLF. In response, the Tigray Communication Bureau issued a same-day statement condemning the move as “unconstitutional” and “a direct breach” of the peace accord.
The Telemt Restoration committee has issued a six-point appeal to the Ethiopian federal government and international partners, calling for urgent and coordinated action to avert a potential return to conflict in the Tigray region. The call comes amid growing concerns over rising tensions and warnings of a possible military offensive by the TPLF.
At the heart of the committee’s appeal is the demand for full enforcement of the Pretoria Peace Agreement signed in 2022. Specifically, they are urging the federal government to prioritize the disarmament of TPLF combatants and implement the agreed-upon Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) program without further delay. The group warned that failure to act could lead to renewed violence and a broader national crisis.
The committee also voiced alarm over the activities of non-governmental organizations operating in the Telemt area. They urged the government to investigate certain NGOs, accusing them of pursuing political objectives under the guise of humanitarian aid but it failed to identify them by name.
Echoing earlier peace talks, the group also reiterated the need for a temporary administration in the three Telemt woredas, with fair and proportional representation for both displaced Tigrayan communities and the region’s Amhara majority.
Beyond security concerns, the committee highlighted deepening humanitarian and developmental challenges in the region. They pointed out that many Amhara children in Telemt have been displaced and remain without access to education due to school closures. They called on the federal government to allocate funds for development and infrastructure in the upcoming 2018 E.C (2025/2026) budget cycle, stressing that access to education is a constitutional right.
The committee concluded with a stern warning about the long-term intentions of the TPLF. They claimed that recent military activities indicate a renewed effort to control Telemt and Wolkait-Tsegede, as part of what they described as a broader plan to establish a breakaway “Tigray Republic” centered along the Tekeze River.
“We want all Ethiopian nations and nationalities, as well as the international community, to understand that our Amhara identity is under existential threat,” the committee stated. “Our struggle goes beyond questions of borders and identity—it is fundamentally about preserving Ethiopia’s unity.”