‘Are We Becoming the Kurds of Ethiopia?’ Tigrayans Plead for Access to Their Money

September 26, 2026

UMD Media spoke with Tigrayans in Addis Ababa who say they have been directly affected by restrictions on access to banking services.

One of them, identified as Y. Hagos, is a stroke survivor who previously received medical treatment in Asia and says he urgently needs access to his money to cover treatment costs, food and other bills.

Hagos, who said he worked for 33 years, told UMD Media that for the first time in his life he fears he could go hungry—not because he has no money, but because he cannot access the money he has earned and saved.

He said he went to the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia’s main branch in Addis Ababa at around 9:00 a.m. Saturday and later sought assistance from customer service on the 23rd floor. He explained his medical condition and appealed to officials to allow him access to his funds.

According to Hagos, a bank officer told him the restriction had come “from the top” and that staff at the branch could not help him.

Hagos was not alone. Other Tigrayans who were at the bank for the same reason reportedly appealed to officials to make an exception for him because of his frail health. Their request was denied. He left the bank at around 11:00 a.m. without gaining access to his money.

UMD Media also received accounts from other branches in Addis Ababa where young Tigrayans were reportedly seen crying and pleading with bank employees to allow them to withdraw their own funds.

Those affected are questioning explanations linking the restrictions to the ongoing war. Hagos and others pointed to conflicts in parts of Amhara, Afar and Oromia, where they say residents continue to have access to banking services.

One Tigrayan who said he had previously left Tigray because of pressure from the TPLF told UMD Media, on condition of anonymity, that the federal government’s treatment of Tigrayans was leaving them feeling increasingly stateless.

“Are we becoming the Kurds of Ethiopia—people without a state that protects them?” he said.