Former Tigray Fighters Begin Registration for Civilian Reintegration

Hundreds of former fighters in Ethiopia’s Tigray region have begun registering for a programme aimed at helping them return to civilian life.

The ex-combatants have been gathering at the Tigray Martyrs’ Memorial Monument in Mekelle, the region’s capital, since Wednesday. The initiative is part of a disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration process included in the 2022 Pretoria peace deal.

Registration follows recapture of Mekelle

The registration began barely two weeks after Ethiopian federal forces recaptured Mekelle from Tigray rebels. The development followed renewed fighting that erupted last month and shattered the peace agreement that had ended Tigray’s two-year civil war.

The available information does not specify how many former fighters have registered, giving the figure only as hundreds.

Caretaker administration announced

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced a caretaker administration for Tigray on Friday. The administration has said it will work to restore public services, support the return of displaced people and prepare for elections within six months.

The registration programme and the caretaker administration’s commitments come as the region works to address the consequences of renewed conflict and the continuing needs of its displaced population.