Despite repeated calls for genuine engagement, the Federal Government continues to take unilateral actions that corrode the fragile trust between parties. This persistent intransigence risks reversing the hard-won, yet fragile, gains of the peace process. The delay in addressing urgent political and humanitarian issues is not merely an oversight—it is a dangerous miscalculation. Further postponement will not resolve the crisis; rather, it risks plunging the country into renewed instability.

Aide-Mémoire: A Dangerous Shift: From Constructive Dialogue to Fabricated Narratives and Threats

To: Diplomatic Missions and International Partners

From: The Tigray People’s Liberation Front

Date: July 09, 2025

  1. Subject: Peace in Peril: The Federal Government’s Alarming Regressive Turn.

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) once again expresses its deep appreciation to the international community for its unwavering support in the pursuit of peace, justice, and lasting stability in Ethiopia. In stark contrast to the Federal Government, the TPLF firmly believes that the international community continues to have a vital role in fostering dialogue and supporting the full implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA).

It is therefore deeply concerning that, in July 3, 2025 address to Parliament, the Prime Minister chose to ridicule and dismiss the contributions of the international community. His rhetoric—devoid of even minimal diplomatic restraint—is alarming and disheartening. Statements such as: “The world will not listen to you… The world is busy with wars in other parts of the world… The world has no time to devote for local war… No country will stand with you. The countries you think would offer support cannot even stand for themselves”—are not only disparaging but also deeply irresponsible. As the leader of a nation of over 120 million people, his words carry significant weight and are expected to be taken seriously. Such occasions should be used to promote unity and cooperation—both domestically and internationally—rather than undermine the spirit of global partnership, which is often crucial in times of need.

Such hostile posturing suggests that the government’s modus operandi is increasingly shaped by conflict and the threat of renewed violence. The Prime Minister’s hyperbolic remarks appear to convey a troubling intent: he appears to be urging the international community to disengage, allowing him to pursue an agenda that threatens to reverse the progress achieved.

As a principal signatory to the Pretoria Agreement, the TPLF remains fully committed to the timely, complete, and faithful implementation of its provisions. The TPLF has repeatedly affirmed that peace is its sole objective. It has no interest whatsoever in dragging the people of Tigray into yet another war.

Despite previous progress, the situation on the ground is becoming increasingly precarious. Recent developments have raised grave concerns, placing the hard-won gains of the peace process at serious risk. This aide-mémoire highlights the most urgent diplomatic priorities, critical challenges, and rapidly evolving dynamics that call for immediate and sustained international attention and engagement.

  • The Federal Government’s Reluctance to Engage in Genuine Political Dialogue:

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has consistently and repeatedly called for the initiation of a genuine and meaningful political dialogue to address the growing setbacks in the implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA). As reiterated in our recent aide-mémoire, we have formally written to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, reaffirming our firm commitment to dialogue in accordance with Articles 3(4) and 10(2) of the CoHA.

Despite these repeated appeals, the Federal Government continues to take belligerent and antagonistic actions. Rather than responding constructively to our calls for dialogue, the Prime Minister was recently heard urging religious leaders, community elders, and diplomatic missions to travel to Tigray to intervene in what he described as “a war concocted by Tigray.” Such a statement is not only disingenuous but also deliberately misleading. It is both possible and far more constructive to engage directly with the Tigrayan leadership to resolve the outstanding issues obstructing the implementation of the CoHA.

As has been clearly outlined, the CoHA explicitly mandates the urgent initiation of political dialogue between the Federal Government and the TPLF to address and resolve the underlying political disputes. Instead, the Government has resorted to unlawful and provocative actions that directly contravene both the letter and spirit of the Agreement—actions that, if left unaddressed, threaten to plunge the situation back into instability and conflict.

Once again, the Government is employing its familiar tactic of siege and blockade to exert pressure on Tigray. This sustained campaign of coercion reflects a broader agenda to weaken and punish the people of Tigray into submission. The ongoing harassment, the propagation of misinformation and disinformation through state-controlled media, and other provocative acts pose a serious threat to the already fragile peace. These measures violate the commitments enshrined in the CoHA and risk inflicting irreparable damage on the broader peace process.

The TPLF reiterates its call for the immediate launch of a credible and good-faith political dialogue. Such engagement is vital to reducing the heightened rhetoric, mistrust, and mutual recriminations that have come to dominate the Ethiopian political landscape. It is also essential to chart a path toward a just, inclusive, and lasting peace. Failure to address the current crisis with the urgency it demands will not only endanger the fragile ceasefire but also squander the only viable path to national reconciliation and collective survival.

  •   The Federal Government’s Persistent and Deliberately Fabricated Accusations of TPLF-Eritrean Collaboration:

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has consistently upheld the principle of peaceful and constructive engagement with all neighboring regions and countries. It remains firmly committed to resolving any differences or misunderstandings through dialogue, mutual respect, and adherence to internationally accepted norms and practices.

In recent weeks, communities residing along the Tigray-Eritrea border have taken encouraging steps to reconnect. In a gesture of reconciliation, they have begun meeting to discuss shared grievances, heal the wounds of the past, and recommit to a future rooted in fraternal relations, peaceful coexistence, and mutual benefit. These communities share a rich tapestry of common language, culture, religion, and history. Significantly, there has never been any record of intercommunal conflict between them.

The TPLF welcomes and strongly supports such people-to-people initiatives. These engagements serve as a vital foundation for regional stability, reconciliation, and peacebuilding—especially in post-conflict contexts. Unfortunately, rather than acknowledging these developments as genuine expressions of fraternal goodwill between the peoples of Tigray and Eritrea, the Federal Government has chosen to view them through a lens of suspicion.

This double standard is deeply concerning. In other border areas of Ethiopia—among Somali, Oromo, and other southern and southwestern communities—cross-border cultural and economic exchanges with kindred groups proceed freely, without federal interference. These interactions are normalized and encouraged as part of the broader social and economic fabric of the region. Yet, similar engagements involving the people of Tigray are being unfairly singled out and politicized.

It is now evident that such grassroots interactions have triggered baseless suspicion and unwarranted mistrust within Federal Government circles. Rather than embracing these community-led efforts to foster peace, federal authorities have responded with deliberate misinformation and politically charged narratives.

This culminated in a series of serious and unfounded accusations—circulated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and repeated by the Prime Minister in his July 3, 2025, parliamentary address—alleging secret meetings, military coordination, and collaboration between the TPLF and Eritrea. These claims are entirely baseless, lacking any credible evidence, and appear to be part of a deliberate disinformation campaign aimed at distorting facts and misleading both domestic and international audiences.

The TPLF categorically and unequivocally rejects these false and politically motivated allegations. It reiterates its unwavering commitment to peace, dialogue, and the full and timely implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA). Alongside the Tigray Interim Administration and the people of Tigray, the TPLF remains fully engaged in supporting every effort aimed at advancing national reconciliation, restoring trust, and achieving sustainable peace.

The TPLF remains open to sincere and constructive dialogue with the Federal Government—dialogue rooted in mutual respect and a shared commitment to healing the wounds of the past, rebuilding trust, and securing a stable and inclusive future for all Ethiopians.

  • Deliberate and Politically Motivated Delay in the Return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs):

The internally displaced people (IDPs) of Tigray continue to issue urgent and repeated appeals for their immediate, safe, and dignified return to their homes. Their pleas come amid widespread domestic and international recognition of the dire, inhumane conditions they are forced to endure. Yet, no meaningful measures have been taken to address their plight. Notably, the decision of the African Union High-Level Panel—which called on the Federal Government to dismantle the unlawful Amhara Zonal Administration, disarm Amhara militias, facilitate the departure of new settlers, and provide logistical support for the secure return of IDPs—has been entirely disregarded. This ongoing inaction represents a serious breach of commitments and continues to prolong the suffering of displaced populations.

This marks the fifth consecutive year that tens of thousands of Tigrayans are being forced to endure the harsh rainy season in severely inadequate, overcrowded, and degrading makeshift shelters. These conditions have exacted a profound toll on already vulnerable populations, especially women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, who remain exposed to disease, malnutrition, and psychological trauma.

While the Prime Minister recently declared in Parliament that the Federal Government is ready to facilitate the return of IDPs to their places of origin, this pronouncement remains unaccompanied by concrete actions or operational mechanisms. There has been no substantive dialogue with regional authorities or affected communities, nor has there been a transparent, coordinated plan to ensure the safety and sustainability of returns.   As has been repeatedly emphasized, the issues surrounding the illegally installed Amhara Regional Administration, the presence of non-indigenous armed groups, and the influx of recent settlers remain unresolved. The Federal Government continues to demonstrate an unwillingness to engage in a genuine agreement with the Tigray authorities to address these critical concerns.

This continued inaction strongly suggests a deliberate and politically motivated strategy to prolong the displacement. It appears intended to exert pressure on the Tigrayan population and to weaken their social, economic, and political fabric. Such conduct constitutes a clear violation of Article 5(3) of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA), which guarantees the right of all internally displaced persons to return voluntarily, safely, and with dignity.

The prolonged displacement of civilians is not only a humanitarian crisis but also a serious obstacle to national reconciliation and durable peace. The failure to resolve this issue risks deepening mistrust, fueling grievances, and further destabilizing an already fragile peace process. If left unaddressed, it will severely undermine the credibility of both the CoHA and the broader post-conflict recovery framework.

The Tigray Interim Regional Administration and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) regard the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs)—including the hundreds of thousands forced to seek refuge in Sudan under inhumane conditions—as an urgent humanitarian imperative, a cornerstone of peacebuilding, and a political priority of the highest order. They are fully prepared to engage constructively and in good faith with the Federal Government and international partners to ensure that this process is carried out in accordance with international humanitarian law and global standards on displacement and return.

The international community is therefore urged to use its political and diplomatic leverage to ensure that the Federal Government upholds its obligations under the CoHA and facilitates the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of all IDPs without further delay. Protecting displaced persons and restoring their rights must remain at the center of any meaningful and sustainable peace process in Ethiopia.

  • Return of Constitutionally Recognized Territories to Tigray:

The unconditional return of all constitutionally recognized territories to Tigray remains one of the core obligations of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA). As repeatedly emphasized, one of the central aims of the CoHA is the restoration of constitutional order across Ethiopia, which necessarily includes the reestablishment of Tigray’s full territorial integrity in accordance with the country’s supreme law.

Despite the unambiguous provisions of the agreement, the Federal Government has failed to implement this key commitment. Instead of upholding its constitutional and treaty-based responsibilities, it continues to engage in semantic evasions, procedural stalling, and political maneuvering—deliberate tactics that obstruct justice and delay the return of the territories. These actions represent a clear and systematic violation of both the letter and spirit of the CoHA.

Alarming evidence has also continue to emerge that the Federal Government is actively involved in training and arming militias in areas west of the Tekeze River, with the apparent objective of preventing the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other Tigrayans to their ancestral lands. These militarized efforts are compounded by the illegitimate zonal administrators from the Amhara regional government, who have intensified inflammatory propaganda aimed at deepening ethnic divisions, delegitimizing Tigray’s constitutional claims, and entrenching the illegal occupation.

The continued occupation of Tigray’s constitutionally enshrined territories not only contravenes the CoHA but also defies the Ethiopian Constitution, which provides clear, peaceful, and legal mechanisms for resolving territorial disputes. Article 10(4) of the CoHA expressly mandates that such matters must be addressed “in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.” This constitutional pathway ensures justice, safeguards national unity, and prevents the resurgence of violence.

6. Unabated Economic Blockade and Siege on Tigray:

The Federal Government has continued to enforce a de facto economic blockade on Tigray, obstructing the delivery of fuel and other essential goods under the pretext of unfounded allegations—specifically, that such supplies are being diverted into Eritrea as contraband. These accusations have been repeatedly made without the presentation of any credible evidence, revealing a clear intent not to safeguard national interests, but to further cripple Tigray’s already devastated economy.

Despite multiple written appeals and formal requests by the Interim Administration of Tigray to the relevant federal authorities, no meaningful response or corrective action has been taken. As a result, the population is now forced to rely on limited and exorbitantly priced contraband fuel sourced from neighboring regions. This has significantly deepened economic hardship, worsened distortions in local markets, and increased public suffering.

It is increasingly evident that these measures form part of a broader strategy aimed at destabilizing Tigray through manufactured fear, deepening poverty, and the deliberate erosion of the population’s resilience. These policies represent a continuation of the pre-war siege tactics—employing systematic deprivation as a tool of collective punishment. Such actions are morally indefensible and amount to grave violations of international humanitarian law.

Furthermore, the Federal Government has imposed restrictions on the movement of tourists, investors, foreign nationals, and members of the Tigrayan diaspora seeking to enter the region. These deliberate constraints reflect a repressive approach, aimed at isolating Tigray and obstructing any prospects for economic recovery, stabilization, or reconciliation.

The international community must recognize these policies for what they are: deliberate and targeted acts of economic warfare against a vulnerable civilian population. Immediate and sustained international pressure is imperative to lift the blockade, restore the flow of essential goods and fuel, and ensure the free movement of people into and out of Tigray.

7. Reaffirming the TPLF’s Steadfast Commitment to a Peaceful Resolution:

During his remarks before Parliament on July 3, 2025, the Prime Minister accused the Tigray forces of allegedly preparing for renewed conflict. He claimed that this was due to a miscalculation of the situation on the ground and a misplaced reliance on external support. While acknowledging that peaceful avenues remain open, he called upon religious leaders, community elders, intellectuals, investors, and diplomats to act immediately to avert a potential descent into war.

In stark contrast to these claims, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has consistently and unequivocally reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to peace, constitutional order, and justice. There are no war preparations underway in Tigray, nor is there any credible evidence of collusion or conspiracy with foreign powers against the Federal Government.

As detailed in the preceding sections, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has consistently advocated for a comprehensive and genuine political dialogue, the safe and dignified return of internally displaced persons (IDPs), the unconditional restoration of constitutionally recognized Tigrayan territories, the fair and lawful treatment of Tigrayans residing in Addis Ababa and other parts of the country, and justice for the victims of the genocidal war. These core demands are fully consistent with both the letter and the spirit of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA), reflecting the TPLF’s constructive commitment to its effective implementation. Furthermore, the TPLF, in coordination with the Tigray Interim Regional Administration, remains dedicated to advancing the Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) process. However, the successful execution of this program requires adequate financial resources and administrative support—challenges that must be urgently addressed through sustained engagement and assistance from all relevant partners.

To further demonstrate its transparency and openness, the TPLF welcomes the arrival of any peace delegations to Tigray. Such missions will have unrestricted access to the region and are encouraged to engage with citizens from all walks of life to witness the realities on the ground and hear directly from the people. Moreover, the TPLF calls upon the African Union High-Level Panel, members of the Monitoring, Verification, and Compliance Mechanism (MVCM), and the broader international community to visit Tigray and independently assess the prevailing conditions. The TPLF is confident that such visits will reveal no evidence supporting the Federal Government’s allegations.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government continues to take measures that actively undermine the peace process. This includes the creation, arming, and financing of proxy militant groups, as well as increased drone surveillance over Tigray — actions that serve only to destabilize the region and sow fear among civilians. These activities represent a serious breach of the CoHA and raise fundamental concerns about the Federal Government’s true intentions and its credibility as a peace partner.

Despite the inflammatory rhetoric and growing threats, the TPLF, the Interim Administration of Tigray, and the Tigray Security Forces remain fully committed to the pursuit of peace and a political solution. There are no preparations for war, no appetite for conflict, and no collaboration with any external force against the Federal Government. The choice of the TPLF and the people of Tigray is clear: to pursue a path of lasting peace, justice, and stability — even in the face of provocation.

8. An Urgent and Reiterated Call to Action:

As outlined in preceding sections, the Federal Government continues to level unsubstantiated accusations against the TPLF and the people of Tigray—alleging war preparations and collusion with foreign powers. These claims are nothing more than politically motivated smear tactics designed to deflect attention from the Government’s own failure to implement key provisions of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA).

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) categorically rejects any suggestion or insinuation of renewed conflict. The people of Tigray have endured unimaginable suffering as a result of the genocidal war. The TPLF’s position is clear and unwavering: it stands for peace, not war; dialogue, not confrontation. It firmly asserts that the genuine implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) is not merely a preferred option—it is an imperative, essential not only for the people of Tigray but for the future stability and unity of Ethiopia as a whole. In this context, the only viable path forward is the initiation of a comprehensive, credible, and inclusive political dialogue.

Despite repeated calls for genuine engagement, the Federal Government continues to take unilateral actions that corrode the fragile trust between parties. This persistent intransigence risks reversing the hard-won, yet fragile, gains of the peace process. The delay in addressing urgent political and humanitarian issues is not merely an oversight—it is a dangerous miscalculation. Further postponement will not resolve the crisis; rather, it risks plunging the country into renewed instability.

In light of these grave concerns, the TPLF issues the following call to all regional and international partners, peace guarantors, and stakeholders committed to the CoHA:

Immediate Actions Required:

  • Facilitate the immediate launch of a comprehensive political dialogue to address all unresolved issues.
  • Convene the long-overdue African Union High-Level Panel of Leaders meeting to review the current deteriorating situation, restore trust, and chart a clear path for the full implementation of the CoHA.
  • Reaffirm the binding nature of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and ensure full, consistent, and good-faith implementation by all signatory parties.
  • Initiate a structured political process aimed at restoring the TPLF’s legal and political status, as stipulated under the peace agreement.
  • Ensure the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of all Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their rightful homes, with full protections and necessary support.
  • Restore, without delay or precondition, all constitutionally recognized territories of Tigray, in full compliance with the CoHA and Ethiopia’s constitutional order.
  • Condemn and take immediate measures against the Federal Government’s support for armed groups operating unlawfully against the people of Tigray.
  • Lift all unlawful and politically motivated travel restrictions, and guarantee unimpeded access to and from Tigray for diplomats, humanitarian agencies, development actors, the diaspora, business communities, and tourists.
  • Resume the full, consistent, and unhindered delivery of fuel, humanitarian aid, and essential supplies to Tigray to alleviate the worsening humanitarian crisis

The TPLF remains firmly committed to peace. But peace must be reciprocal. It cannot endure in the face of continued provocation, non-compliance, and obstruction. We therefore urge the diplomatic community to intensify engagement and use all available diplomatic instruments to hold all parties—especially the Federal Government—accountable to their commitments under the CoHA.

Delaying decisive action risks collapsing the peace process. The time for symbolic gestures has passed; what is needed now is principled and urgent diplomacy.