Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Tigray Herald)
Tigray at the Brink: Independent Report Warns of Collapse Under “Above-the-Core” Criminal Network
Independent Field Observation & Assessment Report Seven-Month Fact-Finding Mission Tigray, Ethiopia
Prepared for: Private Tigrayan Community Briefing, London
Prepared by: Member, Tigray Homegrown Genocide & Atrocities Hunters Team
By An explosive independent field report presented at a private Tigrayan community briefing in London has warned that Tigray is on the verge of political, security, and humanitarian collapse. The findings, based on a seven-month undercover mission by a member of the Tigray Homegrown Genocide & Atrocities Hunters Team, allege that an entrenched “Above-the-Core” criminal network within the TPLF, in collusion with Eritrea’s ruling PFDJ, is driving the region into authoritarian militarism and lawlessness.
The 40-page report, titled “Tigray at the Brink: The Above-the-Core Network, Gold Corruption, and the Descent into Lawlessness,” states that Tigray’s foundations are “collapsing under deliberate actions” of a clandestine elite whose power is maintained through targeted assassinations, sexual violence, illicit gold smuggling, and the obstruction of civilian recovery efforts.
“This is not a forecast it is a factual record of an emergency already in motion,” the report stresses, issuing a strict reminder for immediate and coordinated action.
Key Findings
Political Entrenchment: A military–political oligarchy has sidelined reformists and blocked democratic transition.
Terror Tactics: Killings, kidnappings, water poisoning, and sexual violence are being used as weapons of control.
Illicit Gold Trade: Smuggling networks are financing repression and enriching elites, while fueling corruption.
Unholy Alliance: Once sworn enemies, the TPLF and Eritrea’s PFDJ are now described as “co-dependent,” jointly deploying cross-border death squads and importing Eritrean-style authoritarian governance.
Humanitarian Sabotage: IDP returns and land reclamation are deliberately obstructed, worsening displacement and instability.
The report also documents the deliberate use of sexual violence as a political weapon, “silent assassinations” through tampered bottled water, and widespread arbitrary detention of journalists and opposition voices.
Voices from the Ground
Interviews conducted with farmers, teachers, traders, youth, and ex-combatants reveal near-universal anger at the ruling elite. The majority expressed deep distrust in the military–political leadership and said that removal of the entrenched core is the only path to meaningful reform.
Risks of Escalation
The assessment warns of a high risk of escalation into intra-Tigray armed conflict, with reformist factions potentially clashing against entrenched elites. It also notes that unchecked authoritarian drift could provoke another devastating confrontation with Ethiopia’s federal government.
Recommendations to the Diaspora
The report urges the Tigrayan diaspora to act swiftly by:
Funding independent investigations into assassinations, sexual violence, and gold smuggling.
Establishing secure platforms to amplify survivor testimonies.
Lobbying for targeted sanctions against individuals accused of enabling repression.
Coordinating more closely with reformist leaders in Tigray’s interim administration.
Archiving evidence of abuses for future legal action.
Final Warning
The closing section delivers a stark choice for Tigray’s future:
“Tigray is at the edge of a cliff. One path leads to permanent militarism, resource plunder, and moral decay. The other demands courage removing the criminal core, rebuilding justice, and reclaiming sovereignty. The choice is ours, but time is short and hesitation will be fatal.”
