Addis Ababa, October 22, 2026 (FMC) — The people of Tigray Region want peace and development, not another round of war, Brigadier General Gebre Egziabher Beyene (Wedi Antir), Chief Executive for Security and Peace Affairs of the Federal Government’s Interim Administration in Tigray Region, has said, calling for the eradication of ideas that obstruct stability, recovery and economic progress.
In interviews with local media, the senior official said repeated conflict had exhausted the population, while the illegal TPLF group’s preparations for renewed war had undermined the full implementation of the Pretoria peace agreement and deprived young people of opportunities to rebuild their lives.
He said the agreement halted the fighting, but the defunct TPLF group had been unwilling to implement it fully, particularly the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) process intended to return former combatants to civilian life.
The failure to advance this process had denied young people opportunities to leave military life behind and pursue education, employment and other productive activities.
The consequences have been severe for Tigray Region, he said, pointing to economic disruption, wounded people, displaced residents and young people whose education has been interrupted.
He urged the youth not to waste their lives in military confrontation but to return to peaceful civilian life and contribute to development.
Brigadier General Gebre Egziabher stressed that DDR is essential to sustainable peace and job creation, enabling former combatants to rebuild their lives through lawful and productive work.
He also called for political differences and public grievances to be resolved through peaceful dialogue, stressing that ideas and actions that obstruct peace and development must be uprooted.
The senior official said the banned TPLF group does not represent the aspirations of the people of Tigray Region, who are tired of repeated wars and want stability and development.
He accused the group of pursuing its own political interests at the expense of the region, coordinating with the Eritrean side and exploiting the region’s resources while exposing the population to further suffering.
In separate remarks, he alleged that the illegal TPLF group had fled to Eritrea with more than 800 vehicles and other property, describing the move as evidence of its hostility toward the people of Tigray Region. He said the group had placed its trust in the Eritrean side because it could not stand on its own, while its leaders faced uncertainty about their future.
He further asserted that the group had lost the support of both the public and its own fighters, and dismissed its threats of renewed fighting as empty.
He questioned its claims of military strength, saying that its boast of victory with Kalashnikov rifles was untenable after its failure to prevail despite having used drones, artillery and other modern weapons. He warned that the remaining forces would face elimination if they failed to disarm in an orderly manner.
Brigadier General Gebre Egziabher urged residents to safeguard peace and security and help restore social and economic activities disrupted by conflict. He stressed that the region should bequeath development, not conflict, to its young people, who should direct their energy toward fighting poverty and building a better future.
Dr. Tewodros Aregay, Chief Executive for Economic and Reconstruction Affairs of the interim administration, said the people of Tigray Region should seize the opportunity to sustain peace and advance development. He said the administration would work with the public to ease social and economic hardships and undertake reconstruction.
The officials underscored the need to protect the opening for peace, restore livelihoods and place development at the center of the region’s future, while rejecting the continuation of ideas and actions that perpetuate conflict and obstruct the aspirations of the people of Tigray Region.