seven civil and business organizations have united to advocate for the establishment of an inclusive council that will supervise the execution of the Pretoria Agreement and tackle additional crucial matters in Tigray.

In a joint statement, seven civil and business associations networks emphasized the importance of the Pretoria Agreement for the peace, governance, development, and future prospects of Tigray.

The associations, representing the people of Tigray, expressed concerns about the region and called for the establishment of a council that includes all communities to monitor and support the implementation of the Pretoria Agreement and political governance in Tigray.

They stressed the need for the full implementation of the Pretoria Agreement, the return of the people to their homes in a safe and dignified manner, and the protection of the security and dignity of Tigray. Additionally, they highlighted the unresolved issues of self-government and territorial integrity of the people of Tigray.

The civil and business associations urged the Tigray Interim Administration to convene a Tigray Conference with the participation of all Tigrayans to make legally binding decisions. They called for all Tigray politicians and parties to work in accordance with the Pretoria Agreement.

The associations also announced their intention to establish an independent commission of inquiry to study missed opportunities, problems, and mistakes of the past 37 years. They criticized the political leadership in Tigray, particularly the TPLF leadership, for potentially leading the region into another crisis.

Furthermore, the associations called on all media outlets to uphold journalistic ethics and support the interests and rights of the people of Tigray, warning that misinformation could jeopardize the implementation of the Pretoria Agreement.

The statement concluded by commending the people of Tigray for their resilience in the face of challenges and noted that the associations had convened a two-day conference titled “Tigray Conference on the Resources and Challenges of the Pretoria Agreement-Our Future Direction” before issuing the joint statement.