18 Tigrayan Civil Society Groups Call for Immediate Ceasefire and International Investigation

September 27, 2026

Eighteen Tigrayan civil society organizations have issued a joint statement calling for an immediate end to renewed fighting in and around Tigray, restoration of essential services and humanitarian access, and an independent international investigation into alleged violations by all parties.

The statement follows the September 23 announcement by the National Regional Government of Tigray that its forces had entered what it described as a “defensive war” against a federal attack. Fighting has since spread into areas bordering Afar and Amhara.

The groups said the current crisis predates September 23, accusing the Ethiopian federal government of failing to fully implement the Pretoria Agreement and of progressively restricting fuel, medical supplies, budget transfers and other essential services to Tigray.

They also cited a series of reported drone and air strikes in Tigray between August and September, including attacks in Sheraro, Raya Alamata, Mekelle, Atsbi, Hintalo, Maychew and southern Tigray. The statement attributes the strikes to the federal government.

The organizations criticized the international response as one-sided, arguing that earlier reported attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure received insufficient attention while international actors moved quickly to condemn the TPLF after the latest escalation.

They called on the federal government to stop military operations and drone strikes, restore fuel, medicine, banking, telecommunications and budget transfers, allow unrestricted humanitarian access and commit to political dialogue.

They also called on the TPLF and Tigray regional government to immediately cease hostilities, protect civilians, treat detainees according to international humanitarian law and pursue Tigray’s demands through political means.

The statement urged the African Union, United Nations, European Union and IGAD to secure a verifiable ceasefire and humanitarian access.

It also called for an independent international mechanism to investigate alleged violations by all sides, preserve evidence and publicly report its findings.

The groups further urged all parties and international guarantors to pursue a broader political settlement addressing displacement, contested territories, the presence of Eritrean forces, accountability and the return of displaced Tigrayans.

“The international community must not repeat the failures of 2020 by waiting for the death toll to rise before it acts,” the statement said.

“The fighting must end. The siege must end. Impunity must end.”

The statement was signed by 18 organizations, including Omna Tigray, Ethiopian Canadians for Peace, Tigray Global Council, Security and Justice for Tigrayans, Union of Tigrayans in North America, Tigray Academic Diaspora in Europe and Tigray Community of Toronto.