Mekelle, Tigray | July 2026
By Hagos Abrha Abay, PhD
Concerns have emerged in Tigray following reports from local communities alleging that young people, including teenagers and individuals reportedly under the age of 18, are being forcibly recruited or abducted for military service by armed forces operating in the region.
According to accounts from families and community members, some parents say they have lost contact with their sons and daughters after they were reportedly taken from their communities. The claims have not been independently verified, and no official response from the authorities or the armed groups mentioned in the reports was immediately available.
Witnesses reported that on 3 July 2026, a group of mothers gathered in Mekelle in an attempt to prevent buses from transporting young people believed to have been recruited. According to local accounts, some women held onto their children while attempting to block the buses, reflecting growing concern among families over the reported recruitment.
The reported incidents have prompted calls from residents and community representatives for greater transparency regarding the whereabouts of those allegedly taken and for measures to ensure the protection of civilians, particularly children.
International humanitarian law and international human rights standards prohibit the recruitment and use of children under the age of 18 in armed conflict under many circumstances, with the compulsory recruitment or use of children under the age of 15 recognized as a serious violation of international law.
