Thousands of protesters gathered in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, on July 18 to rally against what they described as a forced recruitment campaign by authorities in the northern Tigray region. The demonstration occurred amid ongoing tensions following the recent Tigray conflict that lasted from 2020 to 2022.

The recruitment drive, which has drawn international scrutiny, reportedly targets young men and boys as young as 15. Human Rights Watch and other observers have documented cases of youths fleeing training camps or their homes to avoid conscription. Some security forces affiliated with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the region’s long-standing ruling party, have been accused of forcibly enlisting these individuals.

Demonstrators in Addis Ababa carried banners with messages such as “The Ethiopian government must fulfil its duty to protect the people of Tigray” and “Stop trafficking combatants to Sudan!” The rally highlighted allegations from the federal government and certain local media outlets that the TPLF has been forcibly sending recruits to Sudan via Eritrea. However, no concrete evidence has been presented to substantiate these claims.

The conflict in Tigray, which ended with a peace agreement in 2022, resulted in significant humanitarian and security challenges. The African Union estimates that at least 600,000 people lost their lives during the two-year war. Despite the ceasefire, instability persists as both the Ethiopian government and the TPLF accuse each other of preparing for renewed hostilities. Security sources report that forces from both sides have massed along the Tigray borders in recent weeks.

Relations between Ethiopia and Sudan have also deteriorated amid these developments, further complicating the regional security environment. The Ethiopian government’s position is that the TPLF is forcibly recruiting Tigrayan youths and sending them to Sudanese territory, exposing them to further conflict.

At the Addis Ababa rally, Getachew Reda, former Tigrayan rebel leader and currently Ethiopia’s minister for East African affairs, was present. He has since aligned with the federal government and publicly condemned the alleged recruitment practices.

The situation in Tigray remains volatile, with humanitarian concerns persisting as displaced populations and local communities continue to be affected by the legacy of conflict and ongoing political tensions.