Addis Ababa, July 23, 2026 (FMC) β The Medemer state and the Ethiopian people maintain an unyielding commitment to peace. Whenever internal or external threats arise, they consistently prioritize the path of peace, going to extraordinary lengths to resolve disputes through dialogue. This preference for peace stems from a deep, foundational understanding of the destructive nature of war.
Yet, when all peaceful avenues are completely exhausted, the Ethiopian people and government rise with the fierce resolve of a mother lion to defend the nation and bring adversaries to heel. Both ancient and recent history bear witness to this truth.
Prior to the Pretoria Agreement, the Medemer state exhausted every available peaceful alternative to avert conflict in the Tigray region. Elders and religious leaders intervened, and mothers wept in appeal. Even as the drums of war by the banned TPLF beat louder, the federal government walked an agonizingly patient path to keep communication channels open with those administering the region at the time.
Despite various factions urging the government to unilaterally exercise its constitutional right to use force, the government prioritized political dialogue and endured relentless criticism. Time and again, even while confirming its clear military supremacy, the government made decisive choices to halt hostilities and withdraw from combat zones for the sake of the people of Tigray.
Even while fighting persisted, the government opened corridors to deliver humanitarian aid to Tigray. Though aid trucks were repeatedly withheld or failed to return, the administration endured these setbacks under the guiding principle that nothing surpasses the welfare of the people.
When these extensive peace efforts ultimately failed to yield results, conflict became unavoidable, forcing the government to execute law enforcement measures against the TPLF group. No one understands the heavy toll of that conflict better than the people and regional administration of Tigray. Forces that made war their sole option drove the young generation in the Tigray region into the fire and devastated both the regional and national economy.
At the conclusion of the conflict, the Medemer state possessed the military capability to settle everything by force. However, driven by the conviction that a negotiated peace would ultimately benefit the entire nation, the government championed the signing of the Pretoria Peace Agreement.
This decision was rooted in the philosophy of Medemer: under no circumstances should we bequeath a legacy of resentment and vengeance to future generations. War inherently creates a zero-sum winner-loser dynamicβa toxic cycle where one sideβs subjugation breeds the grievances that trigger the next conflict. True peace, by contrast, breaks this vicious cycle to make all parties collective stakeholders in stability and shared prosperity. It was decided that rather than growing up trapped in a binary narrative of winner and loser that perpetuates endless enmity, the next generation deserves a framework where mutual survival and cooperation triumph. This choice also aimed to grant affected communities the breathing room needed to healβa profound sacrifice made to preserve the nation and its multinational unity.
Following the peace agreement, the government went to great lengths out of magnanimity and a desire to heal old wounds. In the wake of the accord, the Medemer stateβs delegation, led by Speaker Tagesse Chafo, was the first to cross the threshold, lifting the cloud of hostility. Telecommunications, banking, and aviation services were swiftly restored.
When the Tigray Interim Administration was established, to avoid friction and delays, the regional leadership was granted the primary share of authority so the administration could turn its focus toward peace and development.
The relevant federal ministries went above and beyond their mandates to support agricultural revival, while the Ministry of Education worked tirelessly to reopen schools and universities.
The National Defense Force cut its own budget to execute numerous humanitarian and infrastructure projects, easing the burdens of local communities.
By treating the peace agreement as an opportunity to rescue citizens from hardship and restart governance and social services, the military fulfilled its responsibilities. It assisted where needed, bridged gaps, offered counsel, and directly executed tasks to ensure the step-by-step implementation of the peace accord.
Even when the Tigray Interim Administration lagged behind in certain areas and faltered in fully executing the agreement, the Medemer state never wavered in its comprehensive support.
Going beyond the federal level, regional states contributed from their modest budgets and revenues to aid the Tigray region. Clear directions were established for the return of displaced persons before the rainy season and the onset of farming, enabling residents to be governed by chosen representatives, followed by a gradual constitutional referendum.
The federal government took active steps to put these directions into practice. The Ethiopian public and the international community are well aware of these unwavering efforts and commitments.
Despite these extensive measures, the defunct TPLF faction continuously dragged its feet. Today, it has completely violated the Pretoria Agreement, dismantled the Tigray Interim Administration, and renewed the drums of war by aligning with internal traitors and historic external adversaries.
Known for attacking Ethiopia and trading the nationβs vital interests to historic foes, this banned TPLF group has been rounding up youth, forcefully dispatching them to military training camps within Tigray, and even transporting them to Eritrea.
Understanding that conflict undermines Ethiopiaβs peace, unity, and prosperity, the Medemer stateβjust as it did in the pastβcontinues to view these developments by the obsolete TPLF with patience, keeping the well-being of the people of Tigray at the forefront.
The government has fulfilled and exceeded its obligations regarding the Pretoria Agreement, repeatedly demonstrating its steadfast dedication to peace.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) has issued repeated calls, emphasizing that his governmentβs doors remain wide open to all groupsβincluding the defunct TPLFβthat are genuinely willing to engage in dialogue.
This consistent government stance has laid a profound foundation for national consensus and reconstruction, especially following the closure of the northern conflict.
The Medemer state firmly believes that peace is the fundamental pillar for shaping Ethiopiaβs unity and future aspirations, and it continues to work tirelessly toward that reality.
Although the government retains the constitutional right to use force unilaterally, it persists in extending calls for peace.
It does so to ensure that future generations do not grow up trapped in a zero-sum narrative of winner and loser, and to spare the nation from catastrophic human and material loss caused by the reckless ambitions of the banned TPLF.