Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — In a demonstration held in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, thousands of Ethiopians rallied on July 18, 2026, to protest the forced recruitment of civilians in the Tigray region by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) forces.
The protest, which reflects ongoing tensions and human rights concerns, follows reports that Tigrayan authorities have been abducting and forcibly recruiting young individuals, including those as young as 15, to bolster their forces.
According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), the situation has been exacerbated by nighttime house-to-house searches and abductions in various workplaces and mining sites. HRW’s Laetitia Bader, deputy Africa director, noted the climate of fear the recruitment campaign has created. Officials commented on the matter.
Despite the TPLF’s denial of the allegations, HRW and other sources have continued to document cases of forced recruitment across the region. One former fighter described a harrowing escape, recounting how armed men wearing TDF uniforms had come to his house and taken him away along with 17 others.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has echoed HRW’s concerns, expressing its own alarm over the forced military conscription, which it said primarily targets individuals under 18 years of age.
As the situation in the Tigray region remains volatile, the international community, including the United Nations human rights chief, Volker Türk, has called for all parties to work towards a peaceful resolution and for an end to the forced recruitment campaign.
The protests in Addis Ababa underscore the human impact of the conflict and the urgent need for a sustainable resolution that respects the rights and dignity of all Ethiopian citizens.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: Africanews
Source: AfricaNews
