Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Addis Standard2
Published on 2024-04-13 05:52:52
Eritrea recently released 46 individuals of Tigrayan descent who had been detained in prison for various durations ranging from two months to over a year. The majority of these detainees were apprehended from the Tahtay Adiyabo district, located in the North Western Zone of the Tigray region. Mebrahtom Gezaei, the head of peace and security in the Tahtay Adiyabo district, disclosed that these individuals were held in the Barentu prison, situated in the Gash-Barka administrative region of Eritrea. He further revealed that the detainees were initially abducted before being detained in Eritrea.
The Tahtay Adiyabo district shares a border with Eritrea, and reports indicate that the abduction of individuals from areas within Tigray under the control of Eritrean forces has been on the rise despite the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) in November 2022. In December 2013, Eritrean forces abducted 26 individuals from Gulomekeda, a district in the Eastern Tigray zone. It has been reported that Zalambessa town and six kebeles of Gulomekeda district are predominantly under the control of Eritrean forces due to the conflict that erupted in the Tigray region in November 2020.
A delegation from the AU Monitoring, Verification, and Compliance Mission (AU-MVCM) recently visited the Gulemekeda district and Zalambessa town to assess progress towards the terms of the Pretoria deal and evaluate the situation of the local population in areas under Eritrean control. Similar abductions by Eritrean forces have been documented in various areas of the Tigray region. In September 2023, 28 youths were reported abducted by Eritrean troops in Irob, and their families remain unaware of their whereabouts.
One mother recounted the harrowing experience of her child and other siblings being taken by Eritrean forces shortly after the signing of the Pretoria Peace Agreement. These abducted individuals are civilians without any weapons or militia affiliations. The mother also mentioned that six additional youths were taken from her village within a week. Furthermore, on 18 January 2023, reports surfaced of 10 youths being abducted by Eritrean troops from Gure Endagabir, near Axum city, which is 107 kilometers from the regional capital of Mekelle.
These incidents of abductions by Eritrean forces in the Tigray region highlight the ongoing challenges faced by the local population. The release of the 46 individuals detained in Eritrea is a positive development, but it is essential to address the root causes of such abductions and ensure the safety and security of all individuals in the region. The international community, including the AU and other stakeholders, must continue to monitor and address human rights violations in the Tigray region to prevent further incidents of this nature.
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