By Staff Writer
(Nairobi, Kenya) — A devastating drone strike in the Sheraro area of Northwestern Tigray has killed dozens of people, with over 30 victims buried at Medhanealem Church in the town, according to an investigative report by Priority for Human Rights Ethiopia.
Citing eyewitness accounts and field monitoring conducted between July and August 2026, the human rights organization warned that military and political friction between the federal government and Tigrayan authorities is rapidly escalating toward broader conflict.
The report highlighted several alarm signals indicating a move toward renewed warfare. These include forced military conscription, heavy troop build-ups across the region, and open armed clashes near Sheraro on August 1, 2026.
Political relations between Addis Ababa and Mekelle have further deteriorated following the Tigray People’s Liberation Front’s (TPLF) decision to reinstate the regional council elected in 2020—a body dissolved under the November 2022 Pretoria Peace Agreement—and establish an executive administration.
Priority for Human Rights noted that inflammatory narratives and war rhetoric broadcast by media platforms aligned with both factions mirror the dangerous media environment that preceded the outbreak of the 2020 Tigray war.
The investigation revealed that restrictions placed on essential goods and supplies entering the Tigray region have severely worsened living conditions for local populations. Furthermore, civil liberties in Tigray have suffered following the enactment of Regional Proclamation No. 366/2026 (“Protection of Public Existence and Security”).
According to the rights monitor:
- Mekelle Detentions: Over ten mothers were arrested in Mekelle after publicly protesting forced conscription.
- Prominent Figures Detained in Tigray: High-profile individuals—including medical specialist Dr. Alem Hagos, journalist Te’ame Alemu, social media analyst Me’areg Amare, and key leaders of the Tigray Independence Party—have been taken into regional custody.
- Federal Police Arrests in Addis Ababa: Federal authorities in the capital arrested former Minister of Peace Desta Taye Dendea, defense attorney Abera Negus, Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party (EPRP) Public Relations Head Yisaq Wolday, and EPRP member Abebe Akalu. All are currently held at the Mexico police detention center in Addis Ababa.
To avert a catastrophic return to widespread warfare, Priority for Human Rights outlined key recommendations for both federal and regional stakeholders:
- Immediate Release: Unconditionally release journalists, academics, political figures, and citizens detained solely for exercising their freedom of expression.
- Due Process: Guarantee that all detainees are brought before a competent court within the constitutional 48-hour limit and provided fair trials.
- Peaceful Dialogue: End warmongering propaganda and immediately resume direct negotiations to resolve political disputes.
The monitoring body also urged the African Union, European Union, United States, and international partners to intensify preventive diplomatic efforts before peace frameworks completely break down.
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