Thousands rally in Addis Ababa over alleged forced recruitment in Tigray

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, to protest what organisers described as the forced mobilisation of civilians in the Tigray region by forces aligned with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). The march underscored mounting public anger over reports that residents in parts of the northern region have been compelled into military service as tensions between Tigrayan authorities and the federal government continue to rise.

A demonstration in the capital

The protest, one of the largest in the capital in recent months, drew a diverse crowd of activists, former residents of Tigray, and civil society groups. Participants carried placards condemning what they described as coercive recruitment practices and called on regional authorities to halt any operations targeting civilians. The march moved through central districts of Addis Ababa under a heavy security presence, with police monitoring the procession along its route.

Eyewitnesses reported a largely peaceful atmosphere, though the underlying message of the demonstrators was pointed: that any return to mass conscription outside the framework of national law would not be tolerated. Several speakers at the gathering urged both the federal government and TPLF representatives to engage in dialogue to ease a confrontation that many fear could spiral into wider instability.

Context of escalating tensions

The protests come against the backdrop of strained relations between Ethiopia’s federal authorities and the TPLF, the political organisation that governed Tigray before the armed conflict that broke out in 2020. Although a peace agreement signed in Pretoria the following year formally ended major hostilities, implementation has been uneven, and accusations from both sides have continued to fuel friction. Reports of renewed mobilisation in parts of Tigray have circulated in recent weeks, contributing to a sense of uncertainty among residents and the wider Ethiopian public.

Calls for accountability and restraint

Organisers of the Addis Ababa march said the demonstration was intended to draw national attention to what they described as grave violations affecting ordinary Tigrayans, including young men reportedly taken from their homes without due process. Civil society representatives present at the rally urged independent oversight and called for the protection of civilians from any form of coercion, regardless of which party was responsible.

Human rights organisations monitoring the situation have called on all parties to refrain from actions that could deepen the humanitarian crisis in northern Ethiopia, where millions remain in need of assistance. They have also stressed the importance of transparent investigations into allegations of forced recruitment, along with the restoration of basic services in areas previously affected by conflict.

Looking ahead

Federal authorities have not publicly commented in detail on the latest allegations, while TPLF leaders have previously denied carrying out forced conscription. The scale of the capital’s protest suggests that the question of mobilisation in Tigray is likely to remain a focal point of national debate, particularly as Ethiopia navigates the longer road to durable peace and political reconciliation across its regions.

Source: Africanews — read the original report.