ሚሊተሪ ካውንስልትግራይ ሓይሊ ሰላም
Military Council of Tigrai peace force
Press Statement by the Military Council of the Tigrai Peace Force (TPF) on the House of Federation’s Decision to Conduct Elections in the Unlawfully Occupied Tigrai Territories by Non-ENDF Forces
We, the Military Council of the Tigrai Peace Force (TPF), firmly believe that the primary mandate of the Tigrai Peace Forces is to uphold peace, ensure the rule of law, and protect the security of the people, in order to recover from the grave impacts of the press conference held by the majority of the “Senior Leadership of the Tigrai Army”(who named themselves above the core) on January 22, 2025. To the best of our ability, we remain committed to fostering a peaceful, all-inclusive resolution and governance for the ongoing crisis in the region and beyond.
However, we are deeply concerned by the recent statement issued by the National Election Board of Ethiopia, following the House of Federation’s decision to conduct elections in the unlawfully occupied Tigrai territories by non-ENDF forces. We believe this dangerous action contradicts the fundamental mission of the House of Federation as outlined in the FDRE Constitution, undermines its impartiality in the absence of Tigrai’s representation, and threatens the stability of the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA). Rather than fostering peace and stability in the region, the nation, and the Horn of Africa, it jeopardizes these goals.
The very essence of the TPF is to safeguard the sovereignty and security of the affected population—a cause for which our ancestors have struggled for centuries as Tigraians. We strongly oppose and condemn any baseless claims that seek to impose a fait accompli on HUMERA, ADI REMETS, TSELEMTI, OFLA, and ALAMATA through military occupation. Therefore:
- To the People of Tigrai (at Home and in the Diaspora): The people of Tigrai have struggled for their sovereignty and endured unprecedented suffering over the past years, a hardship that continues today. It is imperative to reject such dangerous and unlawful positions, campaigns, and propaganda that sow division and incite violence among the public. Violence will not bring peace or stability; instead, it will drag Tigrai and the general public further into turmoil and multitude of adverse impacts.
- We call upon the House of Federation to reconsider its decision and declare it null and void, given that Tigrai’s representation has not yet been realized. Although federal high court took appreciable measure, we also kindly urge the Federal Government to take legal measures against the unjust position adopted by the National Election Board of Ethiopia and to refrain from any actions that could compromise the region’s peace and security.
- We insist that the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) enforce the unconditional, immediate, full, and time-bound withdrawal of all non-ENDF forces (including Amhara and Eritrean forces) from the constitutionally recognized territories of Tigrai. The Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF) and Amhara forces continue to occupy these territories in clear violation of the Pretoria CoHA (Articles 2(b), 4, and 5.3) and the Nairobi Declaration (Article 2.1(d)).
- As this action fails to account for the geopolitical realities of the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia, and Tigrai, we respectfully insist the CoHA stakeholders and the international community to fully implement the Pretoria CoHA—including Article 2(e)—and to uphold the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (2007) (AfCDEG, Articles 1 and 2). The Federal Government of Ethiopia and other irregular forces from Amhara must adhere to these principles; respect human rights and the rule of law, including the supremacy of the Constitution and the constitutional order of the Tigrai region; and protect all constitutionally recognized territories of Tigrai.
- We urge all concerned parties to the Pretoria CoHA to swiftly expedite the dignified, voluntary return, reintegration, resettlement, rehabilitation, and recovery of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees to their homes, lands, and properties. In addition to CoHA, we recall the Kampala Convention-African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa scheduled to take place, of which Ethiopia is a signatory state. This must include appropriate support, reparations, and guarantees of safety and security under the arrangements of the Federal Government and the prospective inclusive Tigrai Interim Regional Administration (TIRA).
Military Council of the Tigrai Peace Force (TPF)
February 27, 2026