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Eritrea Expands Hold in Tigray’s Irob and Gulomahda as Tensions Escalate: “Eritrean Forces Must Leave Zalambessa” – Getachew Reda

Tensions are rising in Ethiopia’s Tigray region as Eritrean forces expand their control over key border areas, including the Irob and Gulomahda woredas in Tigray’s Eastern Zone. Local residents have voiced growing concerns over Eritrea’s increased presence and forced identification of Tigrayan citizens as Eritreans. Calls for action from both the Tigray Interim Administration (TIA) and the federal government have gone largely unanswered.

Eritrean Expansion into Northern Tigray

Since the end of the Tigray war, parts of northern Tigray have remained under Eritrean control, including the strategic town of Zalambessa in Gulomahda Woreda. According to local sources, the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF), which had been stationed as a buffer between Eritrean and Tigrayan territories, withdrew from the area last month. This withdrawal has left a security vacuum that Eritrean forces have swiftly filled.

“Eritrean forces have now taken full control of Zalambessa,” said an anonymous official from the TIA. “They are now just 35 kilometers away from Adigrat, which they could easily strike if they wished.”

The Pretoria agreement, which brought an end to the conflict in Tigray, prohibits Tigrayan forces from entering areas not already under their control, complicating the situation further. TDF (Tigray Defense Forces) are unable to replace the Ethiopian troops due to these restrictions, leaving local populations exposed to Eritrean expansion.

Forced Identity Changes and Deteriorating Conditions

Residents in Irob Woreda, one of the most affected areas, have reported severe hardship under Eritrean occupation. A local resident, speaking with The Reporter, described how the Eritrean authorities are pushing Tigrayans to accept Eritrean nationality against their will.

“We are being forced to identify as Eritreans. If we refuse, we’re told to leave our land,” said the resident. “They’ve promised us Eritrean national ID cards, but this threatens our identity as Irob. We consider ourselves Ethiopians, yet we have no support from the government.”

The situation is particularly dire in four kebeles (administrative divisions) of Irob Woreda, which have been under complete Eritrean control. Residents in these areas face shortages of basic necessities, including access to medical services, food, and education. The roads leading to the region have been closed since 2020, further isolating the population.

“There are no schools or hospitals, and people are dying. We feel abandoned by both the federal and interim administrations,” said the resident.

Political Inaction and Calls for Federal Intervention

Despite the growing outcry, efforts to secure action from the federal government have been met with silence. Amdom Gebreselassie, a member of the Arena Democracy party, told The Reporter that half of Irob’s population is now under Eritrean control. He also warned that the situation is worsening, with reports of forced conscription into the Eritrean military and other forms of harassment.

“Eritrean soldiers are forcibly recruiting people, robbing cattle, and terrorizing the population,” Amdom said, adding that many residents have fled to Adigrat and Mekelle in search of safety.

The federal government, which under the terms of the Pretoria agreement is responsible for addressing Eritrean control in northern Tigray, has so far not responded to these developments.

Getachew Reda: Eritrean Forces Must Leave Zalambessa

Getachew Reda, president of the TIA, reiterated that the responsibility for removing Eritrean forces from Tigray lies with the federal government. Speaking with The Reporter, he stressed that the Eritrean presence in areas like Zalambessa has been an issue since the war’s end.

“It has been a long time since Eritrean forces took control of the area,” Getachew said. “The mandate for freeing northern Tigray from foreign forces belongs to the federal government. What we are asking is that the Pretoria agreement be fully implemented. Eritrean forces must exit Zalambessa.”

Eritrea, however, claims historical rights to the disputed areas under the Algiers Agreement, which ended the Ethio-Eritrean war over two decades ago. Yet critics argue that Eritrean forces have gone beyond agreed-upon boundaries, pushing deeper into Ethiopian territory while exploiting internal political divisions between the TPLF leadership and the TIA.

A Call for Action

As frustrations mount among local communities and political figures in Tigray, there are increasing demands for both the interim administration and the federal government to take decisive action. Yet, the federal government’s inaction has left the situation unresolved, with Eritrean forces consolidating their hold on the region.

The escalating tensions risk undermining the fragile peace established by the Pretoria agreement, potentially plunging the area back into conflict if left unchecked. For now, residents of Irob and Gulomahda continue to face an uncertain future, caught between international politics and the realities of occupation.

Local voices like Amdom Gebreselassie remain adamant: “The government must act, or more people will be displaced, and the situation will only worsen.”

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