Mekelle/Tel Aviv/Nairobi/Pretoria/London
Tigrayan Advocacy for Human Rights and Justice in Europe (TAHRJE) Calls for Immediate Action as TPLF Faction and Affiliates Exploit IDPs in Tigray
Brussels, Belgium — 24/11/2025
Tigrayan Advocacy for Human Rights and Justice in Europe (TAHRJE) has condemned the actions of the TPLF faction and its affiliated military commanders, who have been accused of extorting and coercing Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Tigray region. In a statement issued today, the organization called on both the international community and the Federal Government of Ethiopia to take immediate corrective measures to address these actions and hold accountable those responsible.
The latest reports reveal that the TPLF-linked military leaders, in collaboration with local officials, orchestrated a scheme under the guise of a “fundraising event.” In reality, this initiative was a pretext to coerce IDPs into contributing resources directly to the Tigray Defense Force (TDF). TAHRJE has called this act “an unacceptable violation” of international humanitarian law and a “shocking betrayal” of the people they claim to represent.
Coercive Fundraising Scheme Unveiled
On 2nd December 2025, IDPs in Hitsats District were reportedly forced to surrender their last remaining assets, including indigenous cattle, food supplies, hygiene items, and essentials for women and children. These actions were reportedly overseen by General Tsegay Marks, commander of the 17th Tigray Army, and other senior military officials.
The forced “contributions” were presented as part of a fundraiser intended to support the Tigray Defense Force (TDF), but in reality, it was an attempt to extract resources from the very people who were already struggling to survive.
The forced fundraising, which saw the IDPs part with six oxen, was not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of coercion and intimidation. After a month of suppression, reports of the hidden famine in Hitsats were finally revealed on social media, sparking outrage and exposing the failure of local authorities to address the worsening crisis.
International Law and Human Rights Violations
TAHRJE emphasized that the actions of the TPLF-aligned military leadership and local officials violate several international frameworks, including:
International Humanitarian Law
The UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement
The Geneva Conventions
The Rome Statute, which classifies coercion and the stripping of essential goods as criminal acts.
TAHRJE further highlighted the militarized propaganda tactics used to justify these actions, with slogans like “Our army is the guarantee of our survival” and “We stand with the Tigray Army” being used to manipulate IDPs into complying with demands under threat of further violence and insecurity.
Humanitarian Crisis at Breaking Point
Despite the peace agreement reached in 2022 under the Pretoria Agreement, IDPs in Tigray remain trapped in dire conditions characterized by:
Severe food insecurity and hunger
Violence and continued instability
Blocked access to humanitarian aid
A lack of medical resources
Widespread forced displacement
The latest coercive fundraising scheme, in which IDPs were forced to surrender critical resources, only deepens this crisis and moves the region closer to catastrophe.
Call for Immediate International and Federal Intervention
TAHRJE has issued an urgent call for the following actions:
- Immediate cessation of all forced fundraising efforts targeting IDPs and other coercive practices.
- A comprehensive and independent investigation into the involvement of TPLF-affiliated military commanders and local officials in these abuses.
- Targeted sanctions against individuals and networks involved in human rights violations and the exploitation of civilians.
- Access for UN-mandated monitoring teams to IDP sites in Tigray to ensure protection and humanitarian aid is delivered without obstruction.
- Criminal accountability under international law for those involved in the extortion and abuse of IDPs.
- Unhindered humanitarian access to IDPs to ensure their protection and well-being.
TAHRJE has stressed that the international community must not ignore the worsening situation in Tigray, as continued impunity could lead to further violence and suffering for the displaced populations. The Ethiopian Federal Government is also urged to take immediate steps to investigate and address the actions of TPLF-linked factions operating in the region.
A Clear Message to TPLF Leaders
The organization also issued a clear message to TPLF-affiliated military leaders and local officials: the world is watching, and the era of unchecked impunity is over. The exploitation of IDPs for political and military gain must be condemned, and those responsible must face legal and international consequences.
Conclusion: A Call for Urgent Action
TAHRJE stands firmly with the survivors of the TPLF’s coercive actions and calls on all relevant international bodies, including the United Nations and humanitarian organizations, to act with urgency, resolve, and moral clarity. The lives and dignity of Tigray’s displaced communities are at stake, and only swift, decisive action can halt the growing crisis.
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