Tigray remains in 'no-war, no-peace' limbo nearly four years after Pretoria Agreement
via The Reporter Ethiopia19 min read
Nearly four years after the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, Tigray remains in a fragile "no-war, no-peace" state, according to Muauz Gidey PhD, a researcher specializing in political science and peace. The continued presence of Eritrean forces and incomplete restoration of constitutional boundaries are key obstacles to stability. Gidey, lead researcher at the Tigray Institute of Policy Studies, warns that this ambiguity, while a tactical pause, risks strategic disaster. The impending expiration of the Tigray Interim Administration's mandate threatens an institutional vacuum, potentially diminishing a unified Tigray and inviting external interference. Ethiopia's pursuit of sovereign sea access has strained its alliance with Eritrea, increasing the risk of Tigray becoming a proxy battleground. Internally, Tigrayan elites view upcoming national elections as non-democratic, prioritizing the withdrawal of foreign forces and full implementation of the Pretoria framework. Gidey describes a region in profound limbo, with a fractured populace uncertain of its future, exacerbated by the interim administration's looming end and foreign military presence. He notes that the federal government's perceived lack of commitment to the Pretoria Agreement, coupled with internal divisions within Tigray's political landscape, has hindered implementation. Key provisions like the return of territories, resettlement of displaced populations, and transitional justice remain unfulfilled. G
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Reporter Ethiopia.
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