Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Tigray Herald).
Massacre in Mekoni Sparks Fears of Ethnic Cleansing in Raya, Ethiopia
By Anonymous Group
Mekoni, Ethiopia (18 August 2025)
Fresh violence in Mekoni, a town in the Raya zone of southern Tigray, has left civilians dead and raised growing fears of ethnic cleansing against the Rayan community.
Local sources and community leaders accuse the Tigray Interim Regional Administration (TIRA) and allied armed groups of carrying out indiscriminate shootings and killings of unarmed residents in broad daylight. Witnesses say the attacks, which began earlier this week, targeted civilians based solely on their identity and cultural background.
“The people of Raya are being massacred for who they are their culture, their history of resistance, and their defense of freedom,” one community statement read. “This is nothing short of ethnic cleansing.”
Raya, long known for its cultural hospitality and history of aiding displaced communities, has in recent days seen widespread displacement, arbitrary killings, and fear of mass violence. Activists accuse the interim Tigray authorities of pursuing a campaign of repression “driven by political revenge, ethnic hatred, and personal ambition.”
Rights groups and community representatives are calling for:
An independent investigation into the Mekoni killings and other atrocities in Raya.
The withdrawal of unauthorized armed forces from the region.
Civilian protection guarantees and prosecution of those responsible.
Unhindered humanitarian access and international monitoring.
Public condemnation from Ethiopia’s federal government and international partners.
“The federal government must act. If Raya’s people are Ethiopian citizens, their rights and lives must be protected. If not, the community will have no choice but to defend itself,” the statement warned.
The interim government of Tigray has not issued any comment on the allegations.
Human rights observers warn that silence from both Addis Ababa and international actors risks allowing the situation to escalate into a larger humanitarian catastrophe.
