STATEMENT RELEASE: WELQAIT TEGEDE TELLEMT AMHARA SCHOLARS’ ASSOCIATION (WTTASA)

June 11, 2025

In Response to the Recent Remarks by TPLFists, GSTS, and Other Tigray-Based Civic Groups Regarding the OCHA Report

Welqait Tegede Tellemt Amhara Scholars Association has thoroughly reviewed the statements released by Tigray Opposition Party, the Global Society of Tigrayan Scholars (GSTS) and affiliated organizations regarding the recent Reports from United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHEA) in Ethiopia.

We express deep concern over the inaccurate and misleading assertions contained in these statements. These narratives not only mischaracterize the content and intent of the OCHA report but also attempt to delegitimize the longstanding identity and self-determination struggle of the Amhara people in the Welqait, Tegede, Tellemt, and Raya areas. These territories are historically, culturally, and demographically integral to the Amhara Nation.

The “Crocodile Cry” Narrative

Claims that Tigrayan identity and territories are under threat in these areas are misleading and disingenuous. These so-called grievances, often described as “crocodile tears,” mask political motives aimed at territorial expansion and land appropriation. Welqait, Tegede, Tellemt, and Raya have long been home to diverse ethnic groups living peacefully, including innocent Tigrayans, whose rights and security must be protected. However, using their presence as a pretext for political land claims threatens the indigenous Amhara identity and historical rights in these regions.

On the Misrepresentation of Identity and Territory; Historical and Legal Context

The portrayal by TPLF-affiliated groups that Tigrayan identity and territorial claims are under threat is a politically motivated misrepresentation. The Welqait, Tegede, Tellemt, and Raya regions have long been multiethnic communities where Amhara, Tigrayan, and other peoples lived in harmony. However, since 1992, these areas were forcibly annexed into the Tigray Region under the transitional arrangement— prior to the ratification of the FDRE Constitution in 1995—in direct contradiction of both the Transitional Charter and Proclamation No. 7/1992.

Transitional Charter and Proclamation 7/1992;

Article 4 (1); The adjacency of territory settled by a nation, nationalities and the people shall be bases of delimitations of the borders of a national Self Governance.

Article4 (2) (A); The borders of Woredas that existed prior to 1974 shall be taken as bases for the delimitation of the borders of adjacent national Transitional Self-Government until the details of geographical borders of each Nation, Nationality and People are specifically laid down.

FDRE constitution;

Article 40 (3) the right to ownership of rural and urban land, as well as all natural resources, is exclusively vested in the state and in the people of Ethiopia. Land is common property of the Nations, Nationalities and Peoples of Ethiopia and shall not be subject to sale or to other means of exchange.

Furthermore, under the Pretoria Peace Agreement (Article 10 (4)), any issues related to contested areas must be resolved in accordance with the FDRE Constitution—not through unilateral declarations or international pressure.

Based these legal precedents, any territorial claim over Welqait Tegede Tellemt and Raya that disregards these frameworks is both unconstitutional and illegitimate. No national or regional authority has legal right to unilaterally assert control or territorial sovereignty over these areas.

Clarification on IDP Numbers and Demographic Claims

The assertion of 1.5 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the area is factually incorrect. According to Ethiopia’s Central Statistical Agency, the preconflict population of the Welqait-Tegede-Tellemt corridor was approximately 480,000 to 500,000, assuming a 3% national annual population growth rate. A significant portion of those who left the region did so amidst conflict, atrocities, and insecurity, including events like the Maikadra massacre, which disproportionately affected innocent Amharas.

Additionally, credible reports indicate that numerous individuals who left the region later joined TPLF’s armed campaign—including the group known as “Army 70” under Fissha Beyene Gebrekidan—further complicating the humanitarian narrative.

Call to Action

In the light of above WTTASA;

1. Urges the Tigray Opposition Party, GSTS and others to reconsider their current position which contradicts the principles of Pretoria Peace Agreement and Ethiopian constitution.

   
   

2. Demands an immediate retraction of statements that distort the history and identity of Amhara people in Welqait Tegede Tellemt and Raya which undermines their right to freedom and self-determination.

   
   

3. Calls on GSTS other civic organizations within Tigray to abstain from political lobbying under the guise of humanitarian or scholarly work. Civic organizations must uphold their non-political, non-religious and non-profit mandates in sensitive national issues.

Conclusion

WTTASA reaffirms its commitment to truth, justice, and peaceful coexistence. We stand firm in the defense of the rights, identity, and historical ownership of the Amhara people in Welqait, Tegede, Tellemt, and Raya. We reject all attempts to distort historical facts or undermine constitutional processes.

‘‘Peace cannot be kept by force It can only be achieved by Understanding!’’- Albert Einstein

Let us move forward in the spirit of constitutionalism, mutual respect, and truth.

Welqait Tegede Tellemt Amhara Scholars Association

(WTTASA)

Humera, Amhara Region; Ethiopia

June 2025

Full Statement