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• The federal government's occupation of Western Tigray has undermined the Pretoria Accord, raising concerns about democratic institutions and the rule of law.
• A federally funded, paramilitary-backed administration has replaced the constitutionally mandated regional administration in occupied Western Tigrayan territories.
• The occupation and undermining of the Pretoria Accord have significant implications for Ethiopia's democracy, including potential breaches of international human rights law.

The state-sponsored occupation of Western Tigray has become an undeniable reality, nearly six years after the outbreak of the war.

The federal government's narrative of a 'law enforcement operation' in Tigray has collapsed. The state-sponsored occupation of Western Tigray has become an undeniable reality, nearly six years after the outbreak of the war. The guns of the formal conflict may have largely fallen silent, but the constitutional order in occupied Western Tigrayan territories remains unrestored. Instead, a federally funded, paramilitary-backed administration has taken its place, raising concerns about the erosion of democratic institutions and the rule of law.

The Pretoria Accord, signed in 2022, aimed to address the constitutional crisis in Ethiopia. However, the federal government's actions in Western Tigray have undermined its provisions. The Accord emphasized the importance of federalism and regional autonomy, but the occupation of Western Tigray has effectively dismantled these principles. The constitutionally mandated regional administration has been replaced by a paramilitary-backed administration, which raises questions about the legitimacy of the current governance structure.

The occupation of Western Tigray and the undermining of the Pretoria Accord have significant implications for Ethiopia's democracy. The erosion of democratic institutions and the rule of law threatens to destabilize the country further. Lawyers and compliance officers should be aware of these developments, as they may lead to potential breaches of international human rights law and the Pretoria Accord itself. The federal government's actions in Western Tigray set a worrying precedent for the treatment of regional administrations and the protection of minority rights.

Lawyers and compliance officers should watch for potential breaches of the Pretoria Accord, which may have been undermined by the federal government's actions in Western Tigray, and consider advising clients on the constitutional implications of this development.

Source: Original reporting via Addis Standard