Mekelle, Tigray — May 20, 2025
U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ervin Massinga, arrived in Shire today for a critical diplomatic mission amid growing concerns over the fragile peace in Tigray. The visit included high-level discussions with both political leaders and military commanders regarding regional stability and the deepening humanitarian crisis.
Ambassador Massinga held meetings with Dr. Debretsion Gebremichael, Chairperson of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF); Fetlework Gebregziabher, the party’s Secretariat Head; and Amanuel Assefa, Deputy President of the Tigray Interim Regional Administration (TIRA). Discussions focused on the implementation of the Pretoria Peace Agreement, signed in November 2022, and the broader political and humanitarian landscape in the region.
In addition to political consultations, the ambassador held in-depth discussions with senior Tigrayan military officials, including the head of the Peace and Security Bureau and other top commanders. The talks reportedly addressed the current security dynamics in Tigray, challenges to the peace process, and ongoing efforts to prevent renewed conflict.
In a public statement posted on the official Facebook page of the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ambassador Massinga stated:
“Just landed in Shire and ready for a full day of engagement. I will observe U.S. humanitarian assistance in action—supporting communities displaced from conflict. I also plan to meet with regional leaders to advocate for peace, political inclusion, and the full implementation of the #COHA.”
Tigray continues to grapple with serious humanitarian and political challenges, including the safe return and reintegration of internally displaced persons (IDPs), political fragmentation, and growing tensions among former wartime allies. International observers have expressed concern over an apparent internal split within the TPLF—one faction leaning toward Ethiopia’s ruling Prosperity Party, and another reportedly aligning with Eritrea’s ruling PFDJ. These divisions have heightened fears of a renewed and potentially wider conflict in the region.
