Civil society organizations and political parties operating in Tigray have strongly objected to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)\u2019s newly released annual report, which describes areas of Western Tigray as “contested.”<\/p>\n
Among the organizations protesting the report are the Global Society of Tigrayan Scholars and Professionals (GSTS), the Salsay Weyane Tigray Party, and a civic association known as Tsalal\u2014Civil Society of Western Tigray.<\/p>\n
In a statement issued on June 11, 2025, these civic and research institutions, including GSTS, condemned OCHA\u2019s use of the term \u201ccontested\u201d in reference to Western Tigray. \u201cWe condemn the inclusion of the term \u2018contested\u2019 in OCHA\u2019s annual report, which maps areas of Western Tigray,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n
The organizations strongly criticized OCHA for repeatedly portraying Western Tigray as part of the Amhara region in its latest annual report and previous statements. They argue that this misrepresentation, reinforced by OCHA\u2019s reliance on maps, serves to legitimize the forced occupation of the area rather than acknowledging the displacement and suffering of indigenous Tigrayans. Furthermore, they condemn the terminology used in the report, asserting that it effectively validates territorial control and facilitates the forced redrawing of regional boundaries.<\/p>\n
GSTS stated, \u201cWe oppose OCHA\u2019s actions, as they constitute implicit support for the atrocities committed to erase the indigenous people of this region.\u201d The institutions further expressed frustration that, despite repeated concerns raised by various organizations\u2014including GSTS\u2014OCHA has failed to correct its approach.<\/p>\n
The organizations condemned the report as a form of interference in Ethiopia\u2019s internal affairs, accusing it of \u201cencouraging acts of territorial expansion carried out by force.\u201d Similarly, Salsay Weyane Tigray, in a separate statement issued on June 10, 2025, strongly criticized OCHA for its characterization of Western Tigray and called the report\u2019s accompanying map “illegal and misleading.”<\/p>\n
\u201cThe organization has presented these Tigray territories as part of the Amhara regional state,\u201d the party stated, arguing that such actions undermine efforts to uphold peace, justice, and constitutional stability in Ethiopia.<\/p>\n
The party\u2019s statement emphasized that the Ethiopian constitution clearly recognizes Western Tigray as part of the Tigray Regional State. \u201cIt is irresponsible for OCHA to portray the region in this manner without any legal or democratic process altering its constitutional status,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n
Salsay Weyane Tigray further asserted that OCHA\u2019s report legitimizes territorial expansion through force. \u201cBy incorporating such a map in its annual report, the UN Coordination Office appears to be endorsing ethnic cleansing and demographic changes practices in the region,\u201d the party declared.<\/p>\n
The party also called on OCHA to urgently revise its map and issue a formal apology.<\/p>\n\n
Civil society organizations and political parties operating in Tigray have strongly objected to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)\u2019s newly released annual report, which describes areas of Western Tigray as “contested.” Among the organizations protesting the report are the Global Society of Tigrayan Scholars and Professionals (GSTS), the Salsay Weyane […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":23277,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"slim_seo":{"title":"Tigrayan Organizations Condemn OCHA\u2019s Annual Report for Misrepresenting Western Tigray, Accusing It of Legitimizing Forced Occupation. - Dedebit Broadcasting Corporation","description":"Civil society organizations and political parties operating in Tigray have strongly objected to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian A"},"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[223],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25923","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n