Ethiopia Resumes Tigray Disarmament and Reintegration Process

Ethiopia has resumed a process to disarm fighters in the Tigray region, register them for demobilisation and support their return to civilian life, according to state-affiliated media.

Former combatants have begun registering at a centre at the Tigray Police Commission in Mekelle after surrendering their weapons to Ethiopian defence forces stationed in their local areas, the report said.

The renewed process is intended to help fighters leave armed groups and rebuild their lives through civilian activities, including participation in peacebuilding and development programmes.

Officials from the National Rehabilitation Commission have urged young people affected by the previous conflict to take up opportunities to return to civilian life rather than abandon hopes of rebuilding their futures.

The commission has called on eligible fighters to register at centres operated by the Tigray Police Commission and the Northern Command in Mekelle. The process will require coordination among the Ethiopian government, relevant institutions and international partners, the report said.

The resumption comes amid continuing efforts to address the consequences of the war in Tigray, which ended in a November 2022 peace agreement between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

The report did not specify how many fighters have registered, how many weapons have been surrendered or the timeline for completing the process. It also provided no details on the funding, rehabilitation support or reintegration services available to former combatants.

Source: FSX Business News