Seven civil societies have issued a joint statement criticizing the political leadership of Tigray for engaging in shameful politics that degrade the dignity of the people of Tigray and defile the struggle of the people by ignoring calls to resolve political dispute by Tigrayans.

The civil societies, in their yesterday’s statement, highlighted the destructive impact of the dispute between the TPLF leadership on the stability and unity of the people. They condemned the ongoing political turmoil that has disrupted governance in Tigray for over a year, noting that the focus on winning internal political battles has hindered the return of sovereign territory and jeopardized the peace and security of the region, as well as the implementation of the Pretoria Agreement.

The civic society also announced that the political leaders have rejected the efforts by the religious leaders, civic society, and Business associations to resolve the dispute among them. The civic societies further stated “we don’t believe the political crisis can be resolved by those leaders who prioritize their own dignity and interests over the peace, security, and welfare of Tigray.”

They expressed their determination to actively work towards resolving the political crisis and improving the future of Tigray.

The civil societies has urged the political leaders to refrain from making appointments and dismissals of leadership, and to avoid holding demonstrations outside of the hall until administrative reforms can be agreed upon.

In a statement, the civil societies emphasized that the people of Tigray have fought a bloody war to defend their dignity and rights, and will not allow further bloodshed for individual power struggles. They affirmed their commitment to ensuring a political system based on law and order, rejecting any use of force or violence to achieve political goals.

Furthermore, the civil societies announced that the people of Tigray have a history of self-governance and possess the knowledge, order, and capacity to address their political issues on their own. They condemned any external interference in Tigray politics, stating that it will only worsen the situation rather than provide solutions.

In their official statement, it was mentioned that they are aware of the heightened challenges faced by the Tigray Army resulting from the political leadership issues. Nevertheless, they specifically urged the Tigray Army to persist in their duty to uphold peace and security for all citizens in a fair and accountable manner.