Young Men Flee Tigray to Avoid Forced Recruitment
In the wake of the Pretoria Agreement, reports of forced recruitment in Tigray have spurred a wave of young men to flee the region. Families and survivors share stories of abduction, payment for release, and the decision to seek safety in Addis Ababa. Human Rights Watch and local analysts highlight…
By Felo News Desk · Published
After the Pretoria Agreement ended the Tigray war in November 2022, the region has seen a surge in reports of forced recruitment. Young men, many of whom survived the earlier conflict, are now leaving Tigray for Addis Ababa, fearing that they could be conscripted again.
Forced Abductions and Payments for Release
Gebru, 27, recounts how he was taken from his neighbourhood to a local administration office with other young men. His parents, worried that he would be sent to fight, eventually paid 20,000 Ethiopian birr (about $123) to secure his release. After being freed, Gebru fled to Addis Ababa, following his parents’ advice that staying in Tigray could lead to another abduction.
Similar stories have emerged from other survivors. Shewit, 24, who had been rebuilding his life at Mekelle University and running a language‑class business, left for Addis Ababa after hearing that former combatants were being called back to the army. He feared that he could be taken forcibly and decided to leave before he was identified.
Human Rights Watch Highlights Systemic Recruitment
In July, Human Rights Watch documented cases of forced recruitment involving civilians, including boys as young as 15. The organisation reported that Tigrayan authorities and forces had abducted men and boys from streets, homes, workplaces, and gold‑mining areas. The allegations come amid rising tensions between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), both accusing each other of mobilising troops.
Laetitia Bader, Human Rights Watch’s Horn of Africa director, explained that a mobilisation proclamation issued in June criminalised desertion and attempts by relatives to prevent loved ones from being conscripted. She noted that the forced conscription “continues to have an impact” and that young people are fleeing not only because of the threat of recruitment but also due to the region’s humanitarian crisis.
Political Context and the Pretoria Agreement’s Limits
Muauz Gidey Alemu, an assistant professor at the Tigray Institute of Policy Studies, argues that the emergence of forced conscription is a symptom of a deeper political and security crisis. He says the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement ended large‑scale fighting but left unresolved issues such as contested territory, the return of displaced people, and the disarmament of Tigrayan forces.
Alemu warns that continued mobilisation could create a vicious cycle: political insecurity leads to military mobilisation, which then reinforces insecurity. He stresses that the agreement produced an effective cessation of large‑scale warfare but an incomplete peace settlement.
Voices of Those Who Stayed
Gebrehiwot, 28, remains in Tigray. He fought during the previous war but says he does not want to return to the battlefield. He describes how the war’s political and military leadership failed to support wounded fighters and families of the dead, leaving him wary of any new mobilisation.
He says that reports of former combatants being called back increased his fears. “I know what the battlefield looks like. I don’t want to go back there and risk not coming home,” he told reporters.
Responses from the TPLF and Future Uncertainty
The TPLF disputes allegations of forced recruitment, claiming that young people are joining voluntarily. TPLF spokesman Michael Asgedom described the allegations as a “mistaken narrative.” He did not respond to Al Jazeera’s attempts to comment on the story.
With the region’s political situation still unstable, many young men face an uncertain future. Some, like Gebru and Shewit, have chosen to leave Tigray to protect themselves and their families, while others remain, hoping for a peaceful resolution that does not involve the return to arms.
As the situation develops, the international community watches closely to see whether the Pretoria Agreement can be fully implemented and whether Tigray can move beyond the cycle of mobilisation and conflict.
Key facts
- Forced recruitment reports have driven young men to flee Tigray.
- Human Rights Watch documents abductions of civilians, including minors.
- The Pretoria Agreement ended large‑scale fighting but left key political issues unresolved.
- Continued mobilisation risks a cycle of insecurity and conscription.
- The TPLF denies forced recruitment, claiming voluntary enlistment.
- Survivors fear re‑mobilisation and seek safety outside Tigray.
Why it matters
Forced recruitment undermines the fragile peace in Tigray and endangers the lives of young civilians, threatening long‑term stability in the region.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Pretoria Agreement?
It is an African Union‑brokered ceasefire that ended the Tigray war in November 2022, but it has not fully resolved territorial disputes or disarmament issues.
How many people have been reported abducted for recruitment?
Human Rights Watch has documented cases involving civilians, including boys as young as 15, since at least April 2024.
What can families do if a relative is taken?
Families have reportedly paid large sums to secure releases, but the long‑term solution requires a comprehensive peace settlement.
Is the TPLF still involved in the conflict?
The TPLF claims that recruitment is voluntary and denies allegations of forced conscription.
What is the outlook for Tigray’s stability?
Analysts warn that unresolved political issues and ongoing mobilisation could perpetuate insecurity.
Sources
- [1] aljazeera.com — originally reported as “Young men flee Tigray amid fears of forced recruitment”
