Mekelle, Tigray — may 20, 2025
“Tigray is caught between those who committed genocide—on both the right and the left—but the main problem facing Tigray is internal,” said Dejen Mezgebe (PhD), Chairman of the Tigray Independence Party (TIP).
TIP warned that the most pressing threat to Tigray now is the growing fragmentation of the region, which is eroding unity and weakening the national fabric. “Due to what I call ‘lame leadership,’ Tigrayans are scattered, disoriented, and turning inward,” Dejen stated.
He called on Tigrayans at home and in the diaspora to reinforce their unity and intensify their diplomatic struggle for the region’s rights and future.
“Tigray is a land of many political alternatives. No single party can claim to represent the entire Tigrayan nation,” Dejen emphasized, urging collective action and inclusive leadership.
The TIP officially rejected what it described as “engagement”, calling it a misleading and dangerous policy that ignores the foundational demands of the Tigrayan people. Dejen emphasized that “calculated neutrality”—a position of strategic non-alignment and firm principle—should be Tigray’s only viable path in the current context.
“The TPLF is engaging with the forces of genocide,” he stated bluntly, accusing the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) of forming relationships with actors responsible for atrocities committed during the war.He also pointed out that while Tigray is officially considered a region within Ethiopia, it lacks formal representation in federal institutions.
“There is no reason for Tigray to be in conflict with either Ethiopia or Eritrea. Our demands are clear: respect for our sovereignty, the return of displaced persons, and the restoration of our territories. Any so-called ‘engagement’ that ignores these core demands is misplaced and inappropriate,” he said, adding that Tigray should adopt a policy of calculated neutrality.
Dejen further highlighted the critical role of the Tigray Security Forces, describing them as the “backbone of the region.” He affirmed their readiness to resist political fragmentation and oppose any unlawful measures stemming from ineffective leadership.
“The dignity of our nationalism is being shattered by poor leadership. Tigrayans are being pushed toward disintegration. Our party will stand firm and fight to restore unity, dignity, and purpose,” he concluded.
