Solidarity of Tigrayans for Independence & Liberty

#Ethiopia: #Tigray Interim Administration releases 112 ENDF Prisoners of War in accordance with Pretoria peace agreement The Interim Administration of Tigray has announced the release of 112 members of the National Defense Forces (ENDF) who were captured as Prisoners of War (PoWs) during the two-year war in the Tigray region. This move comes as part of the implementation of the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement facilitated by the African Union. In a statement released through the regional communications office, the Interim Administration stated that the released soldiers were among some 16,000 members of ENDF who were initially held as PoWs but were released before the Pretoria agreement was signed. But the 112 released on Friday were held back on suspicion of committing war crimes during the war. Their release was granted through an amnesty process outlined in the peace deal. "In accordance with the Pretoria Peace Agreement and under the direction of the African Union review process, we have decided to release these 112 members of the National Defense Forces," the statement read. The Interim Administration further indicated that decisions regarding other soldiers still in detention within the Tigray region would be made in due course. Expressing confidence in the federal government's commitment to the peace process, the regional communication office stated, "We trust that the federal authorities will continue to facilitate the release of Tigrayan members of the defense forces through amnesty measures." The Interim Administration of Tigray and the federal government recently held the first strategic review on the implementation of the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (#COHA) at the African Union (#AU) premises in #Addis_Abeba. Differences persist between the two parties concerning unmet obligations outlined in the COHA, notably the unresolved status of Western and parts of southern Tigray. These areas remain occupied by government-affiliated forces from the neighboring #Amhara region, resulting in delays in the return of internally displaced persons and the withdrawal of #Eritrean forces. Moreover, the divergences encompass the slow response to the ongoing severe drought in the Tigray region, which has claimed numerous lives, as well as the delay in the progress of disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of Tigrayan forces. Picture: AFP