[TLM Editorial Viewpoint]
ስዩም መስፍን – “ክንሰዓር ንኽእል ካብ ዝፈጠረና ዘዕበየና ዝወለደና ህዝቢ እንድሕር ተነፂልና ፣ናቱ ረብሓ ረጊፅና ናይ ካልእ ረብሓ እንተናዲእና ፣ናቱ ኣውያት ገዲፍና ናይ ኻሊእ ኣውያት እንተሰሚዕና … እዩ::”
In a time of deep national trauma, institutional fragility, and competing political interests, the people of Southern Tigray—especially the proud communities of Raya—have offered a remarkable example of grassroots democracy in action. Through peaceful, principled resistance, they reversed a top-down political decision and reinstated their trusted zonal leadership, led by Haftu Kiros.
This is more than just a local administrative affair; it is a powerful story of civic dignity, historical awareness, and the democratic spirit of a people long committed to self-rule and justice.
A Crisis of Representation
On July 22, 2025, the Tigray Interim Administration abruptly announced the replacement of the Southern Tigray Zonal leadership, including the removal of Administrator Haftu Kiros. The decision was made without community consultation, public transparency, or the consent of the appointees themselves. One of the new appointees, Asmelash Reda, declined the post publicly, stating he had not been consulted—a move that shocked many and exposed serious governance concerns.
The people of Raya, known for their deep historical consciousness and principled resistance, immediately understood what was at stake. This was not simply about who held office—it was about how decisions were being made and whether the sacrifices of the people of Tigray would be honoured through fair and inclusive governance.
Raya’s Tradition of Resistance and Democracy
The people of Raya have long been known for their independent spirit and democratic ethos. Historically, they have stood up against feudal land grabs, authoritarian centralism, and any attempts to suppress their Tigrayan identity. They are neither passive spectators nor pawns in anyone’s game—they are politically aware, culturally proud, and fiercely protective of their rights.
This proud legacy is rooted in the people of Raya, their land, and their values. Raya has produced generations of patriots, educators, freedom fighters, and civic leaders. Their resistance, then and now, is not driven by partisanship but by an unshakeable commitment to fairness, justice, and local ownership of public affairs.
People’s Peaceful Resistance, Powerful Results
The outcry from the people of Raya was swift and peaceful. There were no acts of violence, no calls for chaos—just a unified demand that their voice be respected. Civil society organisations, women’s and youth associations, elders, religious leaders, and ordinary citizens mobilised in solidarity. Their message was simple: the people should not be ruled by force or political manipulation, but by consent and trust.
Despite security deployments and institutional pressure, the people of Maichew, Mekhoni, Alamata, and surrounding areas stood firm. Their peaceful civic resistance eventually forced the Interim Administration to reverse its decision and reinstate Haftu Kiros and his cabinet. It was a quiet victory—but a deeply meaningful one. This is a “victory day for democracy” in Tigray and other zones should follow the peaceful resistance against the authoritarian rule.
A Lesson for All Zones of Tigray
What happened in Raya must be seen as a turning point. It is a reminder that real power lies with the people, not in political offices or militarised enforcement. It is a call for the Interim Administration to recommit itself to inclusive dialogue, transparency, accountability, and people-first governance.
The Pretoria Peace Agreement was meant to usher in peace and democratic transition. That spirit must be upheld, not only in writing but also in practice. Imposing leadership without consent undermines that process and risks reigniting the very tensions that the people of Tigray are trying to heal from.
Conclusion
The reinstatement of Haftu Kiros and his cabinet is not just a local administrative development—it is a democratic rights. It affirms the power of nonviolent resistance and the deep-rooted civic values of the people of Raya.
At a time when Tigray needs stability, unity, and visionary leadership, the people of Southern Tigray have reminded us all that the foundation of any legitimate government is the trust of its people.
Let the rest of Tigray, and Ethiopia as a whole, take note.
ፕረዚደንት ታደሰ ወረደ ንሃፍቱ ኪሮስ ዝበሎ ዘስደምም ነገር
ዓያም ንህዝቢ ራያ!