UMD Media, March 10, 2025
A diaspora-based coalition “I Can’t Be Silent About Tigray” has issued an appeal to the U.S. government, warning that without immediate intervention, a new war could erupt, further destabilizing the Horn of Africa.
Despite the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) signed in November 2022, peace in the region remains fragile. According to the coalition, approximately 40% of Tigray is still under occupation by Eritrean and Amhara forces, who continue to commit human rights violations, including killings, sexual violence, and forced displacements.
Adding to the unrest, an internal faction within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) is accused of obstructing governance and peace efforts. The coalition names former Tigray President Dr. Debretsion Gebremichael, alongside other key political and military figures, as contributors to the ongoing turmoil. These individuals allegedly undermine the Tigray Interim Regional Administration (TIRA), led by Getachew Reda, by sabotaging democratic reforms and consolidating power through coercion.
A particularly concerning development is the alleged collusion between elements of the TPLF and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki. The coalition claims that Eritrea is actively working to reignite conflict in Tigray, posing a significant threat to regional stability and international interests. Additionally, reports claim that illicit gold mining operations controlled by TPLF-linked military figures are funding rogue factions, while also causing environmental and humanitarian harm.
The humanitarian crisis in Tigray is severe, with poverty and unemployment at record highs. Human trafficking networks have reportedly exploited the desperate situation, luring Tigrayan youth into perilous migration routes under false pretenses. Many have perished in the Sahara Desert and Mediterranean Sea as a result.
In response to these alarming developments, TIRA President Getachew Reda has taken action, suspending three high-ranking military generals, accused of undermining stability.
He ordered the indefinite suspension of M. General Yohannes Woldegiorgis, B. General Migbey Haile, and M. General Maasho Beyene citing their unauthorized movements that could destabilize the region.
The suspended generals are known allies of Debretsion Gebremichael, the leader of a faction within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) that has been actively working to unseat Reda from his presidency of the Tigray Interim Regional Administration (TIRA) since August 2024. In his letter announcing the suspensions, Getachew Reda warned that actions taken outside government decisions could lead to chaos, sparking internal conflict within security forces and pushing the entire region toward instability. He stated that such developments could drag the people into a crisis from which recovery would be difficult.
However, the coalition insists that more must be done to prevent a resurgence of war.
The group is calling on the U.S. government to impose targeted sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act against individuals fueling instability, increase diplomatic pressure on Eritrea, and ensure the full implementation of the Pretoria CoHA. Failure to act, they warn, could lead to renewed conflict, exacerbating human suffering and threatening global security.
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