Tigray Accuses Foreign Mercenaries of Fighting for Ethiopia

The Tigray regional presidency has issued a strong condemnation of the reported involvement of foreign mercenaries in Ethiopia's renewed military campaign in the northern Tigray region.

In a statement released on November 6, the Office of the President of the Regional State of Tigray alleged that foreign military personnel were operating alongside the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) on multiple battlefronts.

The statement claimed that foreign involvement had expanded beyond operating unmanned aerial vehicles, providing military advice and maintaining advanced weapons systems.

According to the regional authorities, foreign personnel are now directly participating in ground operations, representing what the statement described as an escalation of foreign interference in Ethiopia's internal conflict.

The presidency also accused federal forces and their alleged foreign supporters of involvement in attacks that have killed civilians, including women and children, and damaged civilian infrastructure.

Foreign Mercenaries Allegedly Deployed on Front Lines

One of the central allegations in the statement concerns the changing role of foreign military personnel.

The Tigray authorities claimed that foreign specialists had previously been involved mainly in technical operations, including drone missions, advanced military equipment and advisory support.

However, the presidency said their activities were no longer limited to remote technical assistance.

It alleged that foreign mercenaries were now fighting directly alongside Ethiopian federal forces across several active fronts.

The regional administration described this development as an escalation that risks introducing further international involvement into the conflict.

The statement did not identify the nationalities of the alleged mercenaries, disclose their numbers or name any foreign military companies responsible for their deployment.

Independent evidence confirming their identities, operational roles or contractual arrangements has not yet been made public.

Civilian Killings in Chila and Rama Condemned

The statement specifically referred to reported civilian killings in the towns of Chila and Rama, where fighting and aerial attacks have intensified in recent weeks.

The Tigray authorities accused Ethiopian forces of repeated drone strikes, aerial bombardments and indiscriminate artillery attacks that have caused civilian casualties and widespread destruction.

They also alleged that residential areas, private property and essential infrastructure had been damaged during military operations.

The reported violence in Rama has received attention following a drone attack on October 30 that killed at least 12 civilians.

Local accounts indicated that the victims had gathered to collect sorghum scattered from a grain transport truck that had been struck the previous evening.

Several people were also reported injured, with local sources describing difficulties transporting seriously wounded residents to hospitals.

Conflict-monitoring organizations documented the incident, although reported casualty figures have varied.

In Chila, military confrontations between federal forces and Tigrayan fighters were reported during the second half of October, including artillery activity in surrounding areas.

The precise number of civilian deaths attributed to the reported attacks in Chila remains independently unconfirmed.

Regional Authorities Allege Looting and Arbitrary Detention

Beyond aerial bombardments and battlefield operations, the presidency accused forces operating in Tigray of committing a range of abuses against civilians.

The statement cited widespread looting, arbitrary detention, intimidation and harassment as practices allegedly used to suppress the population.

The authorities argued that these actions were undermining the safety and resilience of communities already affected by years of conflict.

They also warned that continuing military operations were causing further damage to civilian property and infrastructure.

The allegations have renewed attention on the humanitarian consequences of renewed fighting in a region still recovering from the devastating 2020–2022 war.

However, the full scale of the reported abuses and the responsibility for individual incidents require independent investigation.

Allegations Extend Back to the 2020–2022 Tigray War

The regional presidency argued that the involvement of foreign military personnel in Ethiopia's conflict was neither new nor unprecedented.

According to its statement, foreign specialists were involved in operating drones, providing military advice and supporting military operations during the war between 2020 and 2022.

The authorities alleged that such assistance contributed to operations involving serious abuses against civilians.

The earlier Tigray war caused extensive destruction, mass displacement and a humanitarian crisis affecting millions of people.

The conflict involved Ethiopian federal forces, Tigrayan fighters and other armed actors, including Eritrean troops.

The Pretoria Agreement, signed in South Africa in November 2022, was intended to end major hostilities and establish a framework for disarmament, political normalization and the restoration of essential services.

Disputes over implementation, political representation and security arrangements persisted after the agreement.

Renewed fighting in 2026 has raised fresh concerns about the durability of the peace process.

Tigray Demands Immediate Withdrawal of Foreign Fighters

The Office of the President and the Tigray Security Forces condemned the alleged involvement of foreign mercenaries and demanded that they cease participating in hostilities.

The statement called on all foreign fighters involved in military operations to withdraw and leave Ethiopia immediately.

The presidency warned that individuals who continue to participate in unlawful acts during the conflict could face criminal responsibility.

It stressed that financial compensation cannot justify participation in atrocities and that foreign nationality or contractual arrangements do not provide immunity from accountability for violations of international humanitarian law.

The authorities said activities attributed to foreign military personnel were being documented and that those implicated in abuses should face appropriate legal proceedings.

The statement did not provide a list of individuals or specific foreign units allegedly responsible for violations.

Investigation Sought Into Recruitment and Financing Networks

The regional presidency also called for investigations into those allegedly enabling foreign military involvement.

Its appeal extended beyond personnel directly participating in combat to individuals, organizations and governments involved in recruitment, financing, deployment or logistical facilitation.

The statement urged the international community to examine possible links between foreign actors and serious violations of international law.

The authorities called for accountability for anyone found responsible for aiding or facilitating war crimes, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing or other grave abuses.

They argued that responsibility should be established through applicable legal standards rather than determined by nationality or employment status alone.

Although the statement demanded scrutiny of foreign governments and organizations, it did not specifically name a country or private military company.

The allegations therefore remain broader than the publicly available evidence identifying individual foreign combatants.

Renewed Fighting Threatens the Pretoria Peace Process

The statement was issued amid continuing military operations between Ethiopian federal forces and the Tigray Defense Forces (TDF), which are associated with the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).

Fighting has been reported around Rama, Chila and other areas of central and northern Tigray since October.

On November 5 and 6, Ethiopian federal troops and military equipment were reportedly mobilized from Adwa toward Rama, near the border with Eritrea.

The escalation comes after the Ethiopian government established a new six-month caretaker administration for Tigray on October 16.

Addis Ababa said the administration would restore security, rebuild institutions, facilitate the return of displaced people and prepare for regional elections.

The TPLF rejected the federally appointed administration, challenging its legitimacy and authority.

The competing political positions have deepened disagreements over governance and security in the region.

Ethiopia's federal government has accused the TPLF of undermining the Pretoria peace agreement and initiating renewed military operations.

The TPLF, meanwhile, has opposed the federal government's military campaign and its intervention in Tigray's political administration.

International Community Urged to Take Decisive Action

The second page of the November 6 statement focused on international accountability.

The Tigray presidency called on the international community to take immediate and decisive action in response to the reported involvement of foreign mercenaries.

It demanded public condemnation of foreign participation in atrocities and urged investigations into the networks allegedly supporting such activities.

The statement warned that continued foreign military involvement could further internationalize the conflict and worsen the suffering of civilians.

It also emphasized that governments, organizations and individuals found responsible for serious violations should face accountability under relevant legal frameworks.

The presidency expressed concern that the absence of an effective international response could encourage further abuses.

Regional Presidency Reaffirms Commitment to Peace and Justice

The statement concluded by reiterating the Tigray authorities' stated commitment to protecting civilians, pursuing justice and establishing lasting peace.

The regional presidency called for measures to prevent further atrocities and end impunity for those responsible for violations.

It emphasized that victims deserve accountability regardless of whether perpetrators are Ethiopian nationals or foreign actors.

The accusations have added a new dimension to concerns surrounding the renewed Tigray conflict, particularly regarding the possible role of foreign military personnel in direct combat operations.

At present, the nationalities, identities and precise activities of the alleged foreign mercenaries remain independently unverified.

Nevertheless, documented civilian casualties, renewed military mobilization and competing claims over regional authority highlight the continuing instability in northern Ethiopia.

The November 6 statement places international accountability and the protection of civilians at the center of Tigray's latest appeal as the future of the Pretoria peace process remains uncertain.