Mekelle, Tigray – Over 1500 ethnic Tigrayans have been expelled from the occupied Western Tigray zone by Amhara regional forces and militias this year alone, compounding what rights groups describe as an ongoing campaign of ethnic cleansing nearly three years after Ethiopia’s federal government and TPLF signed a peace deal to end the war on Tigray.
Assefa Gebrehiwot, head of the internally displaced persons coordination cluster in the town of Sheraro, told Wegahta that since the start of 2017 Ethiopian calendar (2024–25), the town has received more than 1,500 ethnic Tigrayans including women, children and elderly people forcibly displaced from many parts of Western Tigray including Welkayt, Tsegede, Humera, Kafta Humera and Maykadra.
“This past week alone, Sheraro received over fifty expelled Tigrayans,” Assefa said, adding that expulsions have persisted for almost three years despite the Pretoria cessation of hostilities agreement. “Many of those expelled reached Sheraro on foot, often after walking for days without food or water,” said Assefa, “Some were brought here with the assistance of federal police, who transported them after they were forced out of Western Tigray.” He added that more than 200 Tigrayans have so far been transferred to Sheraro by federal authorities this year alone, underscoring the scale of expulsions and the federal government’s awareness of the situation. Read more…