News Tigray Admin Alleges Forced Evictions Continue in Disputed Territories
March 21, 2026
The Tigray Communication Affairs Bureau has accused the federal government of overseeing “illegal and forceful” evictions in disputed territories, labeling the alleged actions a direct violation of the region’s constitutional sovereignty. Federal officials say they are unaware of the claims.
In a statement issued on March 18, 2026, the Bureau stated that the continued displacement of civilians in areas like Tselemti is aggravating an already dire humanitarian crisis affecting an estimated one million internally displaced persons (IDPs).
The Bureau argues the lack of tangible progress in restoring Tigray’s territorial integrity under the terms of the Pretoria Agreement has left thousands in a state of “unceasing death and destruction,” pointing to the deteriorating conditions in displacement camps both within Tigray and across the border in Sudan.
According to the statement, the “absence of a clear roadmap for repatriation, combined with dwindling humanitarian aid, has created a lethal environment for vulnerable groups.”
Current reports from humanitarian agencies indicate that over one million Tigrayans remain displaced, facing acute food insecurity as the federal government and regional actors remain deadlocked over the precise boundaries of the Tigray region.
Regional officials are calling on the federal government to restore territorial integrity and facilitate the safe return of citizens before the upcoming rainy season, which will be the sixth for some IDPs, further complicates the situation.
The Bureau’s accusations come following a statement from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) saying that the people of Tigray currently face an existential threat, where its people remain displaced and cut-off from basic supplies.
A political analyst who spoke to The Reporter on the condition of anonymity expressed doubt about the Tigray Interim Administration’s ability to enforce law or protect regional interests.
He argues that the administration, led by Tadesse Werede (Lt. Gen.), has acted as a “puppet” or an instrument of the TPLF, failing to call even a single formal cabinet meeting during its tenure.
According to the analyst, this administrative vacuum allowed the TPLF to systematically replace scholars and opposition members within the interim framework with its own loyalists.
He further accused TPLF of exploiting the interim administration’s weaknesses to further its own political agenda, which he describes as a “belief in force” rather than genuine peace.
While the Tigray Communication Affairs Bureau and the TPLF publicly blame the federal government for “illegal and forceful” evictions in areas like Tselemti and the “systematic dismantling” of regional sovereignty, the analyst suggests the TPLF’s primary motivation is to buy time and protect its assets.
“The party is intentionally creating a mess and resisting federal oversight because it views the peace process as a tool to gain time for a future bloody war or to maintain its illegal status outside the federal constitutional order,” he told The Reporter.
Meanwhile, federal officials say they are unaware of the accusations leveled against them in disputed territories.
Responding to the claims, the deputy head of the Ethiopian National Disaster Risk Management Commission (NDRC), Nesibu Yassin, stated that his office has not been “formally briefed on the specific claims” made by the Interim Administration.
He noted that the Commission is currently “unaware” of the surge in fatalities and displacement figures cited by regional officials.
Nesibu told The Reporter his office will conduct an investigation for formal updates on the ground.