Young men are fleeing the Tigray region of Ethiopia amid fears of forced recruitment, fueled by reports and social media accounts. Despite the November 2022 Pretoria Agreement that ended the war between Ethiopia's federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), tensions remain high, and concerns about renewed conflict are growing.
Gebru, 27, recounts being taken to a local administration office with other young men, fearing conscription. His parents paid to secure his release, after which he fled to Addis Ababa. "My parents were afraid that if I stayed, I would be taken again. They told me to leave Tigray and save myself," he said.
Human Rights Watch reported in July that Tigrayan authorities and forces had forcibly recruited civilians, including children as young as 15, since at least April. The organization documented cases of men and boys being taken from streets, homes, workplaces, and gold-mining areas.
Shewit, 24, who was studying at Mekelle University and running a business, also left Tigray for Addis Ababa due to fears of recruitment. "I had already survived one war. I didn’t want to go through another," he stated, expressing his desire to rebuild his life away from the conflict.
Gebrehiwot, 28, who fought in the previous war, remains in Tigray but is fearful of being called back to the front lines. He witnessed the struggles of wounded fighters and families of deceased soldiers after the war, which has made him reluctant to return to combat. "I know what the battlefield looks like. I don’t want to go back there and risk not coming home," he said.
Laetitia Bader, Horn of Africa director at Human Rights Watch, confirmed that recruitment allegations extend to civilians and young people, including minors as young as 15. She noted that the forced conscription, coupled with the region's humanitarian crisis, is a significant reason for young people to flee.
The TPLF has disputed allegations of forced recruitment, claiming that young people are joining voluntarily. However, Muauz Gidey Alemu, an assistant professor of political science, suggests that the forced conscription is a symptom of the incomplete implementation of the Pretoria Agreement and the ongoing political and security crisis.
For the young men interviewed, the primary concern is avoiding being drawn back into war. Gebru sees leaving as a form of self-protection, while Shewit hopes to build a future away from the conflict. Gebrehiwot simply wishes for peace and the chance to live without the threat of war.
