Tigray Residents Demand Accountability and Removal of Forces After Clashes

'Ensure accountability before leaving our area,' demand residents.

'We have been harmed,' declared 400 representatives from the Samre Saharti Woreda in Tigray, who met today, February 21, 2025, with the interim administration's President, Getachew Reda, and Deputy President, Lieutenant General Tadesse Werede, in Mekelle City.

The representatives called for accountability and demanded that the Tigray forces responsible for the attacks leave their area immediately.

Expressing deep sorrow over the forces' actions, which have escalated from intimidation to direct attacks on civilians, the representatives urged, 'Ensure accountability before leaving our area.'

The representatives highlighted the conflict involving security forces in their area, stating, 'We chose to represent ourselves and do not wish to be led by any other force or entity.'

They demanded urgent justice for the harm caused and insisted that the perpetrators leave their area.

In response, President Getachew Reda stated, 'Any group acting under the guise of the military to pursue its own interests will be held accountable in accordance with the law. The military's deviation from neutrality is unacceptable.'

He added, 'This act aims to divide the people and the military, and it must stop. All parties involved will be investigated.'

Deputy President Lieutenant General Tadesse Werede assured, 'No one responsible for the harm will escape accountability. The matter will be urgently investigated and made public soon.'

On February 20, 2025, clashes erupted in the Saharti Woreda's Addis Alem Kebele between farmers and Tigrayan forces, resulting in severe and minor injuries to 20 civilians and an unspecified number of combatants.