UMD Media, January 19, 2025
In an online discussion with diaspora members on Sunday, January 19, 2025, Tsegay Tetemke, Chair of the Civil Society of Western Tigray (CSoWT), raised concerns about a planned rally by the Shire-based Western Tigray administration on January 23. The administration, which operates from Shire due to Western Tigray remaining under occupation, is reportedly organizing the rally to coincide with civil society efforts that have drawn widespread attention.
Tetemke believes the Shire-based rally is an attempt to overshadow the three-day “Enough is Enough” demonstration organized by CSoWT in Mekelle from January 13 to 15. That rally called for the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to Western Tigray and the restoration of Tigray’s territorial integrity.
The Western Tigray administration is reportedly aligned with the TPLF faction led by Debretsion Gebremichael, a factor that has complicated efforts by the Tigray Interim Regional Administration (TIRA) to exert full control over the area. TIRA’s president, Getachew Reda, leads a rival TPLF faction, underscoring the deepening divisions within Tigray’s political leadership.
CSoWT’s organizers had given authorities five business days to provide a clear and actionable response to their demands. Failure to meet this deadline, which falls next week, is expected to lead to expanded rallies across other major cities in Tigray. These demonstrations are planned to grow in scale and focus, applying increasing pressure on both local and national authorities.
Tsegay Tetemke expressed fears that the Shire-based rally could co-opt the civil society movement and politicize its message, potentially undermining CSoWT’s efforts to address humanitarian and territorial issues. He emphasized that his organization is deliberating on ways to counter this and clarify to the public that CSoWT has no connection to the Shire-based administration’s plans.
The week of the planned rally also coincides with the deadline for the Debretsion Gebremichael faction of the TPLF to notify the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) about the party’s general assembly, a requirement that has now been rejected by the party. It remains unclear whether the NEBE will proceed with deregistering the Debretsion Gebremichael’s party for failing to hold a general assembly, as mandated by election regulations and previous requirements set by the board.
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