Vehement Objection to OCHA’s Continued Territorial Misrepresentation and Classifications in Western Tigray

The Global Society of Tigray Scholars and Professionals (GSTS)
Press Release

∙ H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia ∙ H.E. General Tadesse Werede, President of Tigray Interim Administration (TIA) ∙ H.E. Dr. Gedion Timothewos, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia (MoFA) ∙ H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) ∙ H.E. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations (UNSG) 

∙ H.E. Thomas Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for the United Nations Office for the  Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) 

∙ H.E. Mr. Paul Handley, UN-OCHA head office to Ethiopia 

∙ H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner of Political Affairs, Peace and  Security of the African Union (AU-PAPS) 

RE: Vehement Objection to OCHA’s Continued Territorial Misrepresentation and  Classifications in Western Tigray 

The Global Society of Tigray Scholars and Professionals (GSTS) and the undersigned civic  organizations and research institutes strongly condemn OCHA’s persistent misrepresentation and artificial designations of the illegally occupied Western Tigray, as evidenced in its reports  dated 29 April 2022, 3 June 2025, and others. These reports either incorporate the area into  the Amhara region or misleadingly label it as a ‘contested area,’ presenting a perilous attempt  to erase Tigray’s historical identity and territorial integrity. 

We vehemently lodge our protest against this misrepresentation, which effectively legitimizes  the large-scale ethnic cleansing, forced displacement, mass killings, widespread conflict related sexual violence (CRSV) and rape, slavery, and the systematic erasure of Tigrayan  identity; and the continued gross human rights violations and displacement of more than one  and half million people. Despite multiple appeals, including formal submissions from the  GSTS, OCHA has persisted in producing reports, maps and public statements that present  misleading geographic descriptors and classifications showing its systematic bias that  provide tacit legitimacy to intrusive demographic changes and forcefully redrawing of regional  boundaries, in contradiction to its anticipated institutional neutrality and credibility in the eyes  of the victims, the 1995 constitution of the FDRE (Article 46, Article 47 and other relevant  articles) and Ethiopia’s internal administrative boundaries. Beyond these brazen and  egregious violations that exceed OCHA’s mandate and overshadow its commendable work  in coordinating humanitarian efforts, this sets a dangerous precedent that could embolden  invading forces to pursue illegal annexation and incite further violence and instability. Moreover, such meddling in internal affairs could open a Pandora’s box of redrawing regional  boundaries and/or trigger forceful territorial claims within other regions in Ethiopia and across  the Horn of Africa.

It has to be firmly noted that, in spite of the ongoing conflict, Western Tigray lies within the  FDRE constitutionally established boundaries of the Tigray region and OCHA’s reference to  these areas as “contested” in its report is either a grave error or a deliberate attempt to  legitimize the forceful occupation of Tigray’s territories. Such irresponsible and politically  motivated actions violate both the federal and regional constitutions and risk fueling further  conflicts, jeopardizing the Pretoria Agreement. It is a flagrant disregard of the rule of law,  international norms, and the UN Charter for UN agencies and staff to wantonly meddle in  internal affairs and regional boundary disputes or try to influence with prejudice the direction  of such claimed internal disputes. 

In light of this, we urge: 

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to: ▪ Conduct an immediate investigation to identify the source of these persistent and  dangerous misrepresentations, and to rectify them in all reports, maps, and statements, ensuring that such errors are never repeated; 

▪ Immediately reverse such policy and engage with legitimate Tigrayan authorities, the Tigray Interim Administration (TIA), on appropriate geographical and administrative  designations that respect Tigray’s constitutional status and territorial integrity; 

▪ Exercise utmost care and sensitivity to avoid unwittingly or deliberately affirming the  illegal occupation of Tigrayan territories or employing unconstitutional characterizations  that contradict the country’s constitution and perpetuate the sufferings of the indigenous  Tigrayan residents under the occupied areas; and 

▪ Adhere strictly to its humanitarian mandates and the principles of neutrality, independence, and respect for local governance structures, which should guide its work as outlined in the UN Charter, UN General Assembly, and UN Security Council  resolutions, such as neutrality, on sovereignty and internal affairs of member states, etc. 

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) to: 

▪ Take decisive action against such politically motivated misrepresentations, and ensure  that all local and international institutions and organizations respect and uphold the  constitutional boundaries and regional maps of Ethiopia as they existed before the war  on Tigray; and 

▪ Reaffirm its commitment to the peace process by swiftly countering any efforts that  distort the constitutional framework or territorial integrity of regional states. 

Tigray Interim Administration (TIA) to: 

▪ Swiftly and formally condemn and reject these arbitrarily designations; and demand  OCHA and other actors immediately withdraw any maps and documents that  misrepresent Tigray’s territorial integrity, respect Tigray’s proper administrative units and  names as established under the constitutional framework; and officially file suit against  these irresponsible actions to ensure accountability. 

Guarantors and Stakeholders to the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) to: ▪ Strongly condemn these calculated political acts by OCHA, as they have the potential to  undermine the peace process initiated by the Pretoria Agreement by weakening the  agreement’s call for restoration of constitutional status quo ante, and thus call on OCHA  to cease and desist actions that could jeopardize the peace process.

We remind all international organizations operating in Tigray that their humanitarian mandate  demands strict adherence to principles of neutrality and respect for local governance  structures. Renaming Tigray’s regions is not simply an administrative technicality; it is a  deliberate political maneuver aimed at undermining Tigray’s constitutional territorial integrity  and historical identity. 

Finally, and importantly, we, the undersigned organizations, affirm our readiness and  unwavering commitment to collaborate with all stakeholders to uphold the Ethiopian  constitution, ensure the full implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA)  in its entirety, and foster sustainable peace in Ethiopia and the broader Horn of Africa region. 

List Co-signatory Academic and Civic Society Organizations 

1. Global Society of Tigray Scholars and Professionals (GSTS) 

2. Tsilal Civil Society of Western Tigray (TCSWT) 

3. Gerealta Institute for Policy Studies and Training (GI-PST) 

4. Alliance of Civil Society Organizations of Tigray (ACSOT) 

5. Tigray Public Diplomacy (TPD) 

6. Tigrai Chamber of Commerce and sectoral associations 

7. Tigrai chamber of sectorial association  

8. Tigrai Agricultural Investors Sectorial Association 

9. Solidarity of Tigrayans for Independence and Liberty (STIL) 

10. Irob Anina 

11. Tigray Human Rights Forum 

12. Union of Tigrayans in Europe (UTE) 

13. Tigray Frauen Verein in Deutschland e.V. 

14. Mekete Tigray-UK 

15. Sabawyan Vereinigung Stadt Dresden Und Umgebungen e.V 

16. Orthodox Tewahdo Kirche Tigray Debre Genet St. Kidanamhret Dresden Deutschland 

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