Date: 22 February 2026

From: Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF)

To: Diplomatic Missions and International Partners

The Federal Government’s war rhetoric is growing louder by the day. The international community must act—urgently and decisively—before the situation spirals beyond control.

It is now beyond dispute that the Federal Government has shown little genuine commitment to implementing the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) or restoring sustainable peace. Instead, the Prime Minister’s increasingly personalist system of rule has relied on coercion and inducement to suppress even the mildest forms of opposition. Political problems that demand dialogue, compromise, and institutional solutions are instead approached through force and patronage. This short-sighted approach has brought us full circle—to the same dangerous precipice we stood on in November 2020.

At the same time, a coordinated barrage of disinformation—amplified by paid activists and regime-aligned former Tigray officials—has been deliberately deployed to confuse the public and undermine legitimate concerns. The Federal Government attempts to portray the departure of a few former commanders as evidence of internal disunity. This narrative is deliberately misleading. These individuals had not held operational roles for over a year, and their movements have never been consequential to Tigray’s cohesion or capacity. Their departure neither signals division nor weakness. Tigray remains united in its pursuit of dignity, rights, and peace.

The international community bears a grave responsibility to help avert the clouds of another genocidal war.

In 2020, the Federal Government framed its invasion of Tigray as a brief “law-enforcement operation,” claiming it would conclude within weeks. Many international actors accepted this narrative—or chose silence. What followed were unspeakable atrocities: hundreds of thousands killed, widespread sexual violence, millions displaced, and billions of dollars in destroyed livelihoods and infrastructure. The world’s voice came tragically late for millions of victims.

The signing of the CoHA provided a fragile respite. Yet despite relentless efforts by the Federal Government to undermine the Agreement, the people of Tigray, the TPLF, the Interim Administration, and the Tigray Security Forces have remained committed to its full and faithful implementation. They have consistently called for dialogue and peaceful resolution. These appeals, however, have been met with indifference.

Today, the Federal Government has already mobilized its full military force along Tigray’s borders, signaling preparations for yet another invasion. Despite repeated calls from Tigray for peace and dialogue, federal authorities appear determined to impose political outcomes through force. Their rhetoric is alarmingly explicit: they openly claim the coming war will be short and that Tigray can be subdued in days.

History teaches otherwise.

As the Roman historian Sallust warned: “It is easy to begin a war, but very difficult to stop one; its beginning and its end are not in the power of the same person.” Wars are inherently unpredictable, and their consequences often devastate far beyond their intended targets.

The TPLF, the Interim Administration, and the Tigray Security Forces firmly believe it is still possible to avert catastrophe. Political conflicts must be resolved through dialogue, not destruction. We have repeatedly urged the international community to use whatever leverage it possesses to stop this march toward war.

Let there be no illusion: a renewed conflict will not remain confined to Tigray. It will inevitably engulf Ethiopia and destabilize the wider Horn of Africa.

Time is running out.

As Tigrayans, we remain committed to dialogue and peace. At the same time, we are resolute in defending our rights, dignity, and security. There should be no doubt about this resolve. What we are saying—clearly and consistently—is that war is avoidable. Another round of violence would only destroy lives and reduce years of hard-won progress to ashes.

We therefore call upon the international community—particularly key global and regional actors—to urgently coordinate their efforts, prevent a return to war, and actively sponsor a credible political dialogue that addresses the root causes of this crisis.

The moment to act is now. Silence or delay will carry unbearable human and regional costs.