President of the Interim Administration of Tigray, Lt. Gen. Tadesse Werede, met with Basil Massey, Director of the Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) Program at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP Ethiopia), at his office today. The two officials discussed the ongoing DDR process for the Tigray Army and efforts to advance its implementation.

President General Tadesse stated that the DDR process had experienced a brief interruption due to technical challenges. However, he affirmed that efforts to intensify the process would continue, emphasizing its significant benefits.

Furthermore, he stressed that the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of the Tigray Army should be accompanied by the restoration of Tigray’s territory and the return of displaced people facing difficult conditions in refugee’s camps. He also underscored the importance of implementing the Pretoria Agreement without disruption, stating that its full execution would yield substantial benefits for both Tigray and Ethiopia, contributing to a sustainable peace process.

According to a report from the President’s Office, Basil Massey commended the DDR efforts in Tigray, describing them as effective. He also highlighted ongoing resource mobilization efforts in coordination with federal agencies and donor countries, aiming to further strengthen the initiative in the future.