Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — May 25, 2026 | Horn News Hub
Horn News Hub has received reliable information indicating that forced military conscription campaigns targeting youth are continuing across different parts of Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region.
According to information obtained by Horn News Hub, cadres and armed elements affiliated with the former Tigray People’s Liberation Front have intensified recruitment efforts in both urban and rural areas in recent days. Sources say many young people are resisting the mobilization, while parents and local residents are increasingly confronting those carrying out the recruitment operations.
Circulating videos reviewed by Horn News Hub appear to show tense scenes from multiple localities, including the historic city of Axum, where local residents allegedly attempted to block security personnel from detaining youth for military enrollment.
The footage, which could not be independently verified, shows emotional confrontations between civilians and armed personnel, with parents and community members demanding that their children not be taken for what they described as an unjustified conflict. Some videos also appear to show physical altercations during attempts to prevent arrests and detentions.
Residents familiar with the situation said frustration is growing among families who remain deeply affected by the devastating consequences of the previous war in northern Ethiopia. Several sources described increasing public anger over renewed militarization efforts amid the fragile post-conflict environment.
The reported developments come at a sensitive time as Ethiopia continues to implement the Pretoria peace agreement signed in November 2022. Political observers warn that rising tensions between civilians and local security structures could further complicate stabilization efforts in the region.
Regional analysts and human rights observers are calling on the United Nations, the African Union, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development to closely monitor the evolving situation and assess allegations related to forced recruitment and civilian rights.
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