Addis Ababa: Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) to end forced conscription in the Tigray region and repeal a recently adopted law that the rights group says enables compulsory military recruitment and restricts fundamental freedoms.
In its latest report, HRW said the proclamation adopted by Tigrayan authorities provides a legal basis for forced recruitment and punitive measures against those who oppose or evade mobilization efforts. The organization argued that the law has contributed to the displacement of residents and heightened fears among civilians.
HRW said the recently enacted Security and Mobilization Proclamation contains broad and vaguely worded provisions that could be used to suppress dissent, criminalize criticism, and impose severe penalties, including lengthy prison terms and capital punishment.
“The TPLF should not respond to growing tensions by forcing civilians into military service and punishing criticism,” HRW Deputy Africa Director Laetitia Bader said, warning that the law creates significant risks of abuse.
Critics have described the legislation as a “draconian law,” arguing that it restricts individuals and media organizations from expressing views that oppose the ongoing military mobilization campaign in the region.
According to HRW, the proclamation provides for prison sentences of up to 25 years for those found guilty of undermining mobilization efforts. It also imposes financial penalties on individuals who evade or desert military training.
“Tigrayan authorities should not be forcing Tigray’s vulnerable population to support their military cause or exposing them to further abuses,” said Laetitia Bader, Deputy Africa Director at Human Rights Watch.
The report comes amid heightened tensions between the TPLF and Ethiopia’s federal government, raising concerns among international observers about the future of the Pretoria peace agreement and the risk of renewed conflict in northern Ethiopia.
