Twenty months after the end of the war and a peace agreement, Tigray still faces immense challenges. The conflict pitted Tigrayans in northern Ethiopia against the Ethiopian central government, allied with neighboring Eritrea and other regions such as the Amharas. The conflict could have caused up to 100,000 deaths between 2020 and 2022, according to the African Union, with suspicions of genocide. In Addi Daarob, a city in central Tigray, residents are suffering from a water shortage, increasing tensions in the region.
2 min
With our special correspondent in Addi Daarob, Sebastien Németh
With their cans, children, adults and old people line up in front of a hotel well. The inhabitants no longer have water and rely on the generosity of the owner Fisha Toklu. Thieves are a big problemthe latter launches. People are poor, so they steal. They took the pipes and the pumps. My well is for the hotel, but it is not enough for these people. They are charged a pittance because they have no work. I do not want their money, but we have to pay for the operation. I do not ask for help, because no one can help me. “.
” Peace has not improved our situation »
In the queue, Alekam Aasho waits. This father of four children comes every day with his 25-litre jerrycan. He deplores the situation in Tigray, so long after the peace agreement. We have made some progress since the end of the war. But we expect much morehe emphasizes. The peace agreement gave us hope. Now I hope my government can help me, because we are still struggling to survive. So I am waiting for better services. “.
Next to him, Braham Mulu expresses the same disappointment. The Pretoria agreement, which ended the conflict in November 2022, did not meet expectations. True, the fighting has stopped. But Tigray remains in a disastrous situation. Daily life remains very hardsays Braham Mulu. I don’t even have enough money to buy food. We are very frustrated. Peace has not improved our situation. “.
Rising crime, inflation, unemployment, lack of services and destruction: post-war Tigray is now under tension and protests are beginning to be organized.
Read alsoRFI Special Report – Ethiopia, a look back at the forgotten war in Tigray