Ethiopia Withholds Student Placements at Four Tigray Universities Over Military Presence

By Mintesinot Nigussie  |  September 9, 2026

Ethiopia’s Ministry of Education has said it will not assign new students to four universities in Tigray until their campuses are cleared of military personnel and armed activities, putting the institutions’ enrolment for the coming academic year at risk.

The measure covers Mekelle, Axum, Adigrat and Raya universities and will remain in place until the ministry is satisfied that students can study in a safe and peaceful environment.

The ministry said its decision followed reports and recent confirmation that wounded soldiers were being housed on university premises. Its letter, signed by Education Minister Professor Birhanu Nega, cited earlier use of Mekelle University’s Kuha campus and Adigrat University’s Mewuqe Werqi campus to accommodate war-wounded personnel.

The ministry also said wounded soldiers had more recently been confirmed on the main campuses of Axum and Adigrat universities.

It has ordered the four institutions to remove military personnel from their campuses, prevent any military or armed activity on university grounds and ensure that institutional resources are not diverted to military purposes.

The restrictions apply not only to teaching areas but also to student residences, medical centres, buildings, warehouses and university vehicles. University boards and management teams have been instructed to monitor implementation and ensure compliance.

The ministry said the presence of military personnel and activities on university premises places students’ lives and safety at risk and compromises the institutions’ civilian and educational mandates.

Failure to identify or report activities outside the universities’ educational missions could also result in significant accountability, the ministry warned.

The directive has received differing responses from university officials. An unnamed university administrator confirmed to BBC Amharic that the letter had been received, while Adigrat University briefly posted the document on its Facebook page before deleting it.

The ministry’s decision comes as Mekelle University prepares to receive existing undergraduate students. The university has announced September 19 and 20 as reporting dates for continuing regular undergraduate students for the 2026/27 academic year.

The ministry said student placements would remain suspended at the four universities until their campuses are confirmed to be free of military activity and the safety and continuity of education can be assured.

Source: FSX Business News