Salsay Weyane Tigray Condemns Drone Strike on Mekelle, Warns of Renewed War

Salsay Weyane Tigray (SaWeT), a Tigrayan opposition political party, has condemned Thursday’s drone strike in Mekelle, accusing the Ethiopian federal government of carrying out the attack and warning that the incident could push Tigray toward another devastating war.

The party issued the statement on August 20 following reports of a drone strike in the Tigrayan capital. A drone strike struck Mekelle on Thursday and wounded at least 13 people, including five children, according to Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital in the capital.

SaWeT Accuses Ethiopian Government

In its statement, SaWeT said: "Today, 20 August 2026, the Ethiopian regime carried out a bombardment against innocent Tigrayans in the city of Mekelle," adding that it had received information from medical institutions indicating that civilians had suffered serious injuries.

The party characterized the strike as part of what it described as a continuing pattern of violence against Tigray’s civilian population and institutions.

SaWeT further described the incident as a "blatant war crime" and an extension of what it called the Ethiopian government’s "anti-Tigray policy."

Warning of Another War

SaWeT warned that the strike could further destabilize an already tense situation and increase the risk of renewed large-scale conflict.

The party said the attack could accelerate "another destructive round of war that we fear may come."

The warning comes amid heightened tensions in northern Ethiopia. UMD Media reported another strike earlier this week, approximately 15 kilometres east of Mekelle. The latest strike marks the first reported attack on the Tigrayan capital since the signing of the Pretoria Agreement in November 2022.

The development has heightened concerns about a possible escalation of hostilities as Tigray continues to recover from the devastating 2020-2022 war.

Appeal to Tigrayans and International Community

SaWeT called for an immediate end to what it described as the Ethiopian government’s "anti-peace" actions.

The party also appealed to Tigrayans whom it accused of celebrating attacks against their own people, urging them to refrain from such actions.

Expressing sympathy with those injured and their families, SaWeT called on international institutions and the broader international community to condemn the strike and increase pressure on the Ethiopian government.

The party said it would continue its political and diplomatic efforts to seek accountability and protect the people of Tigray.

Just weeks before the latest escalation, Salsay Weyane Tigray had issued an urgent appeal to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the TPLF leadership, other Ethiopian political and regional actors, and the international community, urging all sides to use every available political and diplomatic means to prevent another war.

The party warned in late July that military mobilization, escalating rhetoric and unresolved disputes were putting the fragile peace established by the Pretoria Agreement at risk, and called for sustained international pressure and dialogue before fighting resumed.

It cautioned that another conflict would have catastrophic consequences not only for the people of Tigray, who are still struggling to recover from the previous war, but also for Ethiopia and the wider Horn of Africa.

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Originally published on UMD Media Facebook on 2026-08-20T10:30:00-06:00. Source: https://www.facebook.com/getachew.UMDMedia