By: Getahun Tsegaye
Staff Reporter
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – In what appears to be an effort to avoid war and maintain relative peace, a discussion in Humera yesterday, June 23, 2024, to openly address the deeply sensitive question of identity in the Wolkait region. From official figures, Getachew Reda, Arega Kebede and Colonel Demeke Zewdu attended it.
The discussion came at a time when reports are emerging that the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) is mobilizing forces to open another round of fighting in the Wolkait area.
Getachew Reda, the former Head of the Tigray Interim Administration and now Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Advisor on Horn of Africa Affairs, acknowledged the heart of the matter directly. “We acknowledge the existence of an identity question,” he stated, emphasizing that the answer must come “through legal and just means.” He underscored the importance of hearing the collective voice, reminding everyone that this isn’t about individual claims, but the aspirations of an entire community.
Getachew also made a clear distinction between the leaders of the TPLF and the people of Tigray. “The TPLF leaders and the people of Tigray are completely different entities,” he asserted, suggesting that “it is useful to view the two entities separately to create peace.” His message, “People should be seen above land; the people of Wolkait should be accepted as my people,” resonated deeply, offering a human-centric approach to a historically land-centric dispute.
Amhara Regional President Arega Kebede on his part said “it is not appropriate to think of resolving border and identity issues by force.” He stressed that any resolution “should be resolved in a way that brings lasting peace and has legal legitimacy on all sides,” highlighting the need for a solution that truly endures.
Adding his influential voice to the discussion, Colonel Demeke, a founding member of the Wolkait Identity and Self-Determination Committee and a key administrator in the region, affirmed, “We do not want problems to be created for the peaceful people of Tigray.” He stressed that “the long-standing question of the people of Wolkait Tsegede must be resolved properly; the question requires a legal and national answer,” underscoring the urgency and national significance of the issue.
The Wolkait-Humera area has long been a flashpoint between the Amhara and Tigray regions. The conflict that erupted in late 2020 further intensified this dispute. Yesterday’s dialogue, however, offers a glimmer of hope, signaling a shared desire among leaders to navigate this complex issue not with force, but with fairness, law, and a genuine concern for the people caught in the middle.
Edited by Dimetros Birku
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