Tigray Interim Administration Denies Reports of Federal Troop Deployment in Tigray

Mek’elē, February 21, 2026 — The Interim Administration of the Tigray Region has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) have been ordered by the federal government to enter the region, calling the information “completely false.”

The announcement was made on Saturday by the interim administration, led by Lieutenant General Tadesse Werede, in a statement posted on the official Facebook page of the Office of the President. In recent days, posts have appeared on various platforms alleging that the federal government had informed the interim administration of plans to deploy defense forces in Tigray.

On Friday, another post claimed that an agreement had been reached to station ENDF troops in camps located within the region.

The interim administration categorically denied both allegations in its statement, noting that claims suggesting “the federal government has ordered the Ethiopian Defense Forces to enter Tigray” are unfounded. It also rejected reports that the administration had agreed to base troops in former Northern Command camps.

Describing the posts as “distorted and incorrect,” the administration emphasized that the “strategy, source, and intended purpose” behind the dissemination of such information were clear.
“The interim administration of Tigray is keen to state that the information being disseminated is completely false,” the statement read.

The announcement comes amid growing concerns that tensions between the federal government and Tigray forces could escalate into renewed conflict.